The parties they belong to may either win or lose. But the ‘Veerapandi family' in Salem district continues to reign supreme.
This ‘first' family split into two vertical groups, owes its allegiance to two major Dravidian political outfits that have been ruling the State — DMK and AIADMK.
While Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam and his son A. Rajendiran belong to the DMK, his niece and former Minister Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy and their cousin S.K. Selvam, staunch MGR loyalists, have preferred to stay with the AIADMK.
Since 1972, the Veerapandi Assembly segment, their home turf, has been their family battleground. While Mr. Arumugam, like any other DMK leader, preferred a rural segment this time, leaving Veerapandi to his son, the AIADMK shifted Ms. Vijayalakshmi from Salem North to Sankagiri in the revised list that paid rich dividends — she defeated her powerful uncle in a straight contest.
Both father and son lost this time. In the 2006 polls, Mr. Arumugam had contested from Salem North, enabling his son to contest from Veerapandi. Both won.
Mr. Rajendiran defeated Ms. Vijayalakshmi while her cousin Selvam was not given a seat. Mr. Selvam had defeated Mr. Arumugam in the 2001 polls.
The family has been ruling the district utilising the strong political clout it wields in the two major parties since 1970s and especially after the murder of AIADMK youth wing leader Sukumaran, brother of Ms. Vijayalakhsmi, following a land dispute. Mr. Arumugam was named as an accused in the case but he was acquitted of all charges.
Since then the ‘Veerapandi family' stands divided. The then party high command in the AIADMK carefully nurtured the hatred within the family and brought in Ms. Vijayalakshmi to counter Mr. Arumugam in the political minefield of Salem district, dominated by Vanniyars.
The Veerapandi Assembly itself has returned the family members nine times after the Congress won the first poll in 1957.
Barring the 1977 and 1991 polls, when ‘outsiders' were elected, Mr. Arumugam has won four times and Ms. Vijayalakshmi twice. While Mr. Selvam won an election, Mr. Rajendiran won two polls.
