Forest brigand Veerappan’s daughter Vidya Rani joins BJP

On Saturday, advocate Vidya Rani, elder daughter of forest brigand Veerappan, joined the national party in the presence of senior BJP leaders Muralidhar Rao and Pon Radhakrishnan at the party officein Krishnagiri.

Veerappan, who was gunned down by the Special Task Force in 2004, was a strong influential person among the Vanniyar community in Sathyamangalam–Krishnagiri areas. The party in recent days has intensified the membership drive and are eyeing influential people and actors. Actor Namitha was the last celebrity to join the party in Chennai and more celebrities are in the pipeline to join the party, sources at the BJP headquarters, Kamalalayam, said.

The state BJP has also planned a state-wide rally in support of the CAA on February 28. The party has sent instructions to its district-level office-bearers to organise cadre and the rally will culminate in front of the local district collector offices.

The party has also reached out to the Hindu outfits seeking their help for the controversial CAA Act, which has created nationwide protests from the minorities.