Veerappan’s family enters electoral politics in Tamil Nadu

Two decades after the killing of dreaded forest brigand Veerappan in a police encounter in Tamil Nadu, his daughter and widow are seeking to reshape his legacy—from that of a feared outlaw to a defender of Tamil rights—through electoral politics.

Veerappan’s elder daughter, Vidhyarani, 35, a lawyer, is contesting from the Mettur constituency as a candidate of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), while his widow, Muthulakshmi, is in the fray from Krishnagiri on behalf of Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi. Both parties advocate 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, securing over one lakh votes.


For Muthulakshmi, this marks a return to politics after her debut as an independent candidate in the 2006 Assembly elections.

Both women have chosen to embrace Veerappan’s controversial legacy rather than distance themselves from it, attempting to recast his image. "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 aligns with NTK’s core plank of Tamil nationalism.

NTK chief Seeman has been 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 campaigning for her.

Vidhyarani’s political journey began with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which draws significant support from the Vanniyar community, a numerically strong group spread across several districts in Tamil Nadu. She joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020 before switching to NTK in 2024.

In Krishnagiri, Muthulakshmi has focused her campaign on agrarian distress. "I have lived among farmers. My fight is for water, crops and dignity," she told TOI.

Both candidates maintain that they have not faced hostility due to their past. "On the contrary, people respect us," Vidhyarani said.

Observers believe their entry could dent PMK—an ally of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)—particularly in the Vanniyar-dominated Mettur and Krishnagiri regions. While neither candidate foregrounds caste, they are expected to draw a share of Vanniyar votes, which might otherwise have gone to the PMK.