India's most notorious poacher and sandalwood smuggler Veerappan is back in Tamil Nadu elections through his wife and daughter, who are contesting from different assembly seats on tickets for two regional outfits.
Veerappan's daughter Vidha Rani Veerappan, 35, a lawyer, is contesting in the Mettur assembly segment in Salem district as a candidate of the actor-politician Seeman-led Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), two years after making her poll debut in the 2024 elections.
Her mother Muthulakshmi Veerappan is also in the poll fray as a candidate of the Tamil outfit Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) in Krishnagiri assembly constituency.
Both women claim they are fighting to restore Veerappan's "pride" and claim that he was not an individual as he was projected.
However, a political analyst says that the parties want to portray Veerappan as a hero of the Tamil community and his wife and daughter are used as a face to get votes.
Veerappan was killed by the state police in a forest encounter in Papparappati village in Dharmapuri district in October 2004.
He was booked in nearly 175 police cases, including 130 murder cases.
