SALEM: Two decades after dreaded forest brigand Veerappan was killed in a police encounter in Tamil Nadu, his daughter and widow are attempting to rewrite his story – from that of a feared outlaw to a defender of Tamil rights – through electoral politics.Veerappan’s elder daughter Vidhyarani, 35, an advocate, is contesting from Mettur constituency as a candidate of Naam Tamilar Katchi, while his widow Muthulakshmi is in the fray from Krishnagiri on behalf of Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi. Both the parties back ‘Tamil nationalism’.”If my father were alive today, he would have entered the democratic process, too,” says Vidhyarani, who is testing electoral waters for the second time. She had earlier contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Krishnagiri as an NTK candidate, polling over one lakh votes.For Muthulakshmi too, this marks a return to politics after her debut as an independent candidate in the 2006 assembly elections.Both the women have embraced Veerappan’s controversial legacy instead of shying away from it, and seek to repaint him. “He was not the dreaded criminal he was made out to be. He stood against exploitation and injustice,” Vidhyarani said at a rally in Mettur, drawing loud cheers, particularly from young supporters. Her campaign echoes NTK’s core plank of Tamil nationalism.NTK chief Seeman was vocal in his support for Veerappan. “If Prabhakaran (LTTE chief) was the guardian of our race, Veerappan was the guardian of our forests,” he said while canvassing for her.Vidhyarani’s political journey began with Pattali Makkal Katchi, which draws its support from Vanniyars, a numerically strong community spread across more than a dozen districts in Tamil Nadu. She joined BJP in 2020, before switching to NTK in 2024.In Krishnagiri, Muthulakshmi focusses on agrarian distress in her campaigns. “I have lived among farmers. My fight is for water, crops and dignity,” she told TOI.Both maintain that they face no hostility due to their past. “On the contrary, people respect us,” Vidhyarani said.Observers believe their entry could dent PMK – an AIADMK ally – particularly in the Vanniyar-dominated Mettur and Krishnagiri belts. While neither candidate foregrounds caste, they are expected to attract a share of the community votes, which are otherwise expected to go for PMK.About the AuthorSenthil KumaranV Senthil Kumaran is currently working as the Special Correspondent for The Times of India, focusing on the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Erode. As the sole representative for these five districts in Western Tamil Nadu, Senthil Kumaran covers a wide range of topics, including crime, education, and civic issues. He has exposed numerous scams and held several government officials accountable for their actions. In addition to his journalism work, he holds an MBA in Human Resources, an M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, and an LLB, along with a BA in English Literature.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Crack Down on ISI-Linked Spy Module, 10 Arrested; Second Network Busted After Pan-India Surveillance Plot’Chokepoints Now A Global Anxiety’: Jaishankar Invokes West Asia Crisis At Indian Ocean ConferenceMathura: Boat Carrying Devotees Capsizes In Yamuna; 10 Bodies Recovered, Rescue Ops OnQatar Assures Reliable Energy Supply To India Amid West Asia Crisis After Hardeep Puri’s Doha VisitPakistan-ISI Spy Network Busted: 11 Arrested For Recce Of Military Sites Across North IndiaCentre Notifies CAPF General Administration Act 2026; Families, Retired Officers Protest in DelhiJustice Yashwant Varma Resigns Amid Cash Row — Why He Stepped Down On Day Of Impeachment Defence’Win A War Without Firing?’ CDS Anil Chauhan Explains Shift From Battlefield To Perception WarfareExercise Brahmastra: Indian army’s first firing from the AH-64E Apache attack helicoptersMarco Rubio’s India Visit Next Month After Talks With Vikram Misri in Washington123PhotostoriesFrom Vivek Dahiya getting emotional during Divyanka Tripathi’s pregnancy scan to pampering her midnight cravings, the couple share their journeyHow to differentiate between naturally and chemically ripened banana: FSSAI’s rulebook on ripening temperature for the fruit4 high-profile business family feuds that made headlines globally5 things that make Bandhavgarh National Park irresistible to nature loversFrom Yashasvi Jaiswal-Maddie Hamilton to Hardik Pandya-Mahieka Sharma: 5 Indian cricketers and their rumoured girlfriendsGold or platinum with diamonds: Which one actually makes you look richer?Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares secrets on how to use moong (whole, split with skin, and split skinless) for maximum benefitsShubman Gill’s new house in Juhu, Mumbai is a ₹20 crore luxury apartment with sea views, full-floor privacy and luxury amenitiesWant love that lasts? 5 phrases that can save your relationshipChild’s roti and sugar for school lunch goes viral: 13 school tiffin meals that all 90s kids can relate to123Hot PicksIran war ceasefirePAN Card application 2026Purple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingVijayKerala Missing StudentTiger WoodsTelangana Triple MurderUS stock marketPAN Card application 2026Bhojshala disputeLaker Injury UpdatesSchool Holidays in AprilChar Dham Yatra 2026
SALEM: Two decades after dreaded forest brigand Veerappan was killed in a police encounter in Tamil Nadu, his daughter and widow are attempting to rewrite his story – from that of a feared outlaw to a defender of Tamil rights – through electoral politics.Veerappan’s elder daughter Vidhyarani, 35, an advocate, is contesting from Mettur constituency as a candidate of Naam Tamilar Katchi, while his widow Muthulakshmi is in the fray from Krishnagiri on behalf of Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi. Both the parties back ‘Tamil nationalism’.“If my father were alive today, he would have entered the democratic process, too,” says Vidhyarani, who is testing electoral waters for the second time. She had earlier contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Krishnagiri as an NTK candidate, polling over one lakh votes.For Muthulakshmi too, this marks a return to politics after her debut as an independent candidate in the 2006 assembly elections.Both the women have embraced Veerappan’s controversial legacy instead of shying away from it, and seek to repaint him. “He was not the dreaded criminal he was made out to be. He stood against exploitation and injustice,” Vidhyarani said at a rally in Mettur, drawing loud cheers, particularly from young supporters. Her campaign echoes NTK’s core plank of Tamil nationalism.NTK chief Seeman was vocal in his support for Veerappan. “If Prabhakaran (LTTE chief) was the guardian of our race, Veerappan was the guardian of our forests,” he said while canvassing for her.Vidhyarani’s political journey began with Pattali Makkal Katchi, which draws its support from Vanniyars, a numerically strong community spread across more than a dozen districts in Tamil Nadu. She joined BJP in 2020, before switching to NTK in 2024.In Krishnagiri, Muthulakshmi focusses on agrarian distress in her campaigns. “I have lived among farmers. My fight is for water, crops and dignity,” she told TOI.Both maintain that they face no hostility due to their past. “On the contrary, people respect us,” Vidhyarani said.Observers believe their entry could dent PMK – an AIADMK ally – particularly in the Vanniyar-dominated Mettur and Krishnagiri belts. While neither candidate foregrounds caste, they are expected to attract a share of the community votes, which are otherwise expected to go for PMK.
