Remember Veerappan? The Slain Smuggler’s Daughter Appointed As BJP's Youth Wing Leader in TN | Know More

Rani, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February this year, has been appointed as state youth wing vice-president, the party announced in a statement.

New Delhi: Vidhya Rani, the newly appointed vice-president of BJP’s state youth wing in Tamil Nadu, is no ordinary name. She is the daughter of Veerappan, the slain sandalwood smuggler who was one of the most-dreaded brigand of his time. Rani, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February this year, has been appointed as state youth wing vice-president, the party announced in a statement. Vidhya Rani, kin of late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and film personalities were among those appointed to Tamil Nadu BJP's state executive committee and various cells on Wednesday. The new appointments are spearheaded by the BJP state president L Murugan, who took charge of the the post in the month of March, to renovate the party in Tamil Nadu, where elections are due next year. About Veerappan: Veerappan was one of the most notorious names of his time and had given the cops quite a chase. He operated in the forest areas in the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. He had once kidnapped the Kannda thespian Rajkumar. Veerappan was shot down by Tamil Nadu police STF (Special Task Force) in the year 2002. As per reports, Veerappan was linked to over 150 deaths, including police and forest officers, and the poaching of various elephants. BJP appointed many big names in state executive committee and various cells. AIADMK founder Ramachandran's adopted daughter Geetha and grandson of M C Chakrapani (brother of the late chief minister) R Praveen, who joined the BJP in 2017, and actor Radha Ravi have been made members of the party's state executive committee. The party also got more star power with Murugan announcing the appointment of actor Vijayakumar and directors Gangai Amaran and Kasthuri Raja as special organisers in the state executive committee. Kasthuri Raja is the father of top star Dhanush, son-in- law of superstar Rajinikanth. Music Director Dhina and director Perarasu are secretaries of art and culture cell, while actor R K Suresh is the new vice president of state OBC cell.