Tamil Nadu Assembly Election | Killed worker’s daughter enters the field

The daughter of the priest of a village temple who murdered her son has decided to take a political plunge to expose an encroachment on a waterfall at Muthalipatti near Kulathalai in Karur district.

Seeking to set “an example” for women, especially those suffering from violent crimes, the priest of the Iyer Temple A. Veeramalai’s daughter 38-year-old V. Annalakshmi has decided to contest from Srirangam.

“I have lost my father and my elder brother; There is nothing else to lose. Now, my only wish is to serve the people by taking up public causes, ”she says.

In July 2019, Veeramalai and his son Nallathambi were hacked to death by a gang for filing a court petition as part of their fight against the encroachers on Muthalipatti Ari. Ever since Ms. Annalakshmi has fought a legal battle to put the accused behind bars.

She filed a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to remove all encroachments from the nearly 200-acre lake, which she says has been destroyed and converted into ‘Natham’ land; Patches have been issued in the name of encroachers.

Ms. Annalakshmi is left alone in Muthalipatti supporting her younger sister and mother with a nominal income from family land.

“By entering public life, I want to send a message that it is important for women not to get into a shell, but to come out of trauma [of violent incidents], “She says.

As she lives in Inam Puliyur (near Muthalipatti), which falls under Srirangam, Ms. Annalakshmi has chosen the constituency. His candidature has been supported by Makkal Pathai, who supported him in difficult times. “He asked if I was interested in contesting elections. She says that I wanted to enter public life. However, she will contest as Desiya Makkal Sakti Katchi’s candidate on the ‘football’ symbol.

Ms. Annalakshmi has also come up with a charter of promises, including setting up a bus terminus at Srirangam and finding a solution to the long-standing dispute between the residents and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple over the ownership of the property. His other promises are to build a check-dam in Kollidam and establish a perfume extraction unit for profit for flowering plants. She vows to spend 75% of her salary on public welfare.