On the morning of December 28, Vijayakanth, the leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party based in Tamil Nadu, passed away at the age of 71. The DMDK announced that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and was facing respiratory challenges.
His final ceremonies are set to occur tomorrow evening at the party\’s headquarters in Chennai.
In 2005, Vijayakanth founded the DMDK and emerged as the solitary victorious candidate in the 2006 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election. Despite securing 10% of the vote in the 2009 Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu, the party underwent a decline in the early 2010s.
Referred to as \’Captain,\’ a title derived from the success of his 1991 film \”Captain Prabhakaran,\” where he played the lead role, Vijayakanth had a noteworthy career as an actor before entering politics.
Leaders at both regional and national levels conveyed their condolences for Vijayakanth\’s passing. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin described him as a dear friend, recognizing his contributions to Tamil Nadu and the film industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the loss, commending Vijayakanth\’s impactful performances in Tamil cinema and his commitment to public service, leaving a lasting mark in Tamil Nadu\’s political landscape.
Vijayakanth had been admitted to the hospital the previous month, requiring pulmonary support. He was discharged two weeks ago and participated in his final public function on December 14, during which his wife, Premalatha, was elected as the party\’s general secretary.