One such bid probably came from Tiruchendur’s V. Radhika Selvi, the pregnant wife of the ‘Pannayar’Venkatesan, a mafia leader in Tuticorin district shot dead in September 2003 by the police. "Radhika maynot deliver in the electoral battle, but she will deliver a child in another week. She may not even be able tocampaign," says an amused DMK leader. Venkatesan was an accused in eight murder cases. His encounterdeath had angered the Nadar community, and the DMK hopes to influence the Nadar vote by fieldingVenkatesan’s wife. In the process, it has denied the ticket to Aladi Aruna, a former law minister. Spited,Aruna is likely to join the BJP.