TVK Alleges Whistle Ban at Chepauk Stadium

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Sunday accused the ruling DMK government of deliberately stopping cricket fans from carrying whistles into the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk during an international cricket match.

The party said that the whistle is its official election symbol and claimed that the restriction was aimed at targeting its supporters. According to TVK leaders, several fans were not allowed to take whistles inside the stadium at different entry gates.

The incident happened during the opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup, where New Zealand played against Afghanistan at the Chepauk stadium. Security personnel and police officers were checking bags and belongings at the gates and reportedly stopped spectators who had whistles with them.

TVK alleged that this was done intentionally to prevent its supporters from showing their symbol at a public event. The party criticised the state government and said such actions were unfair and politically motivated.

However, officials said that security checks are routine during large international matches. They explained that certain items, including objects that can create loud noise, are sometimes restricted inside stadiums to maintain order and avoid disturbance during the game.

Despite this, TVK maintained that the move affected its supporters and questioned why whistles were specifically stopped.

The issue has now turned into a political debate, with the party demanding clarification from the authorities. The match, meanwhile, went ahead under tight security arrangements with thousands of fans attending the game.