Veerappan's Family Enters Electoral Politics, Aiming to Reshape His Controversial Legacy
Two decades after the notorious forest brigand Veerappan was killed in a police encounter in Tamil Nadu, his daughter and widow are stepping into the political arena with a mission to rewrite his story. They seek to transform his image from a feared outlaw to a champion of Tamil rights, leveraging electoral politics as their platform.
Political Candidacies and Party Affiliations
Veerappan's elder daughter, Vidhyarani, aged 35 and an advocate by profession, is contesting from the Mettur constituency as a candidate of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). Simultaneously, his widow, Muthulakshmi, is in the fray from Krishnagiri on behalf of the Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi. Both political parties are known for their strong backing of 'Tamil nationalism,' a core ideology that resonates with their campaigns.
Vidhyarani expressed her conviction that if her father were alive today, he too would have embraced the democratic process. She is testing electoral waters for the second time, having previously contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Krishnagiri as an NTK candidate, where she polled over one lakh votes. For Muthulakshmi, this marks a return to politics after her debut as an independent candidate in the 2006 assembly elections.
Embracing and Redefining a Controversial Legacy
Rather than distancing themselves from Veerappan's contentious past, both women have wholeheartedly embraced his legacy, actively seeking to repaint his image. At a rally in Mettur, Vidhyarani asserted, "He was not the dreaded criminal he was made out to be. He stood against exploitation and injustice." Her statement drew loud cheers, particularly from young supporters, and aligns with NTK's core plank of Tamil nationalism.
NTK chief Seeman has been vocal in his support for Veerappan, stating during canvassing for Vidhyarani, "If Prabhakaran (LTTE chief) was the guardian of our race, Veerappan was the guardian of our forests." This endorsement underscores the party's efforts to frame Veerappan as a protector of Tamil interests.
Political Journeys and Campaign Focuses
Vidhyarani's political journey began with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which draws significant support from the Vanniyar community, a numerically strong group spread across more than a dozen districts in Tamil Nadu. She later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020 before switching to NTK in 2024.
In Krishnagiri, Muthulakshmi focuses her campaign on agrarian distress, stating, "I have lived among farmers. My fight is for water, crops and dignity." Both candidates maintain that they face no hostility due to their past, with Vidhyarani noting, "On the contrary, people respect us."
Potential Impact on Tamil Nadu Politics
Political observers believe the entry of Veerappan's family members could dent the prospects of PMK, an ally of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), particularly in the Vanniyar-dominated belts of Mettur and Krishnagiri. While neither candidate foregrounds caste in their campaigns, they are expected to attract a share of the community votes that might otherwise go to PMK.
This development highlights a significant shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, where controversial legacies are being reinterpreted through the lens of Tamil nationalism and electoral strategy.
