Tamil Nadu elections: Slain BSP leader K Armstrong’s wife T Porkodi files papers amidst AIADMK’s cry against crime

CHENNAI: T Porkodi, wife of slain BSP leader K Armstrong, stepped out of her private life and into the world of politics on Thursday, filing her nomination papers for the Thiru Vi Ka assembly seat as an AIADMK-backed candidate. Armstrong was murdered by a gang near his Chennai home on July 5, 2024 – an incident the opposition cites as an example of "rising crime" in Tamil Nadu.

Clad in a yellow salwar suit and carrying her two-year-old daughter on her hip, Porkodi, 51, was composed, almost silent. And AIADMK leader D Jayakumar did the talking: "Failing law and order and crime against women have made Tamil Nadu an unsafe place to live in. Even a leader like Armstrong was not spared," he said, promising to put behind bars the "real killers" of Armstrong "once AIADMK came to power". So far, police have arrested 28 people in connection with the case and shot dead an accused in an encounter. But AIADMK and a few dalit groups say the real culprits have not been brought to book.

Once a little-known homemaker, Porkodi is now a serious contender, as AIADMK banks on a mix of sympathy for her and public anger against the govt. The party is also attempting to tap into dalit resentment and allegations that the ruling DMK failed to ensure protection for Armstrong, a prominent Ambedkarite voice. Porkodi, who floated the Tamil Maanila Bahujan Samaj in 2025, will contest on AIADMK's ‘two leaves' symbol.

With this, the reserved (for SC) constituency of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar has emerged as one of North Chennai's closely watched battlegrounds. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, a DMK ally, welcomed the AIADMK's choice of Porkodi. Film director Pa Ranjith, too, has backed the move. NTK spokesman Idumbavanam Karthik said though Porkodi's political entry is welcome, her association with a party that has allied with BJP was wrong.

Former DGP and ex-AIADMK MLA R Natraj said that fielding Porkodi is a strategic move by AIADMK. "Armstrong's murder was gruesome and in broad daylight. He had good support in the area and there is sympathy for Porkodi following his murder," he said.

This is not the first time a TN party has fielded the wife of a slain leader. In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, DMK had fielded Radhika Selvi after her husband and leader of All India Nadar Padukappu Peravai, Venkatesa Pannaiyar, was killed in an encounter on Sep 26, 2003.