Veerappan's wife doesn't make it

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) The hopes of forest brigand Veerappan's widow Muthulakshme to gain representation in the Tamil Nadu Assembly came crashing down as the results of the May eight polls were announced.

Muthulakshme, who contested from the economically-backward Pennagaram constituency in Dharmapuri district, finished fourth, behind eventual winner P N Periannan (DMK), S R Vetrivel (AIADMK) and P Dhandapani of (DMDK).

Dissatisfied with the DMK's decision of taking back the seat after allotting it to the PMK, rebel PMK leaders had fielded her as an Independent.

But she did not cut much ice with the voters despite her popularity during campaigning as the DMK candidate, who polled 74,109 votes, emerged a runaway winner by a margin of 26,932 votes.

His nearest AIADMK rival got 47,177 votes.

P Dhandapani of the DMDK finished third with 10,567 votes, while Muthulakshmi got 9,868 votes in a field of 16 candidates.

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