Veteran actor-politician Vijayakanth of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday morning, December 28. He was 71. Fondly addressed by his fans and party cadre as 'Captain', Vijayakanth was admitted to the MIOT Hospital in Chennai after his health began deteriorating and was subsequently put on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Earlier in the day, the DMDK issued a statement informing that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was put on a ventilator owing to his breathing issues.
— Vijayakant (@iVijayakant) December 28, 2023
A statement issued by the MIOT Hospital read, " 'Captain' Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023." The actor-politician was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for a regular health check-up and his party office had said at at the time that he was "healthy" and would return home upon the completion of the tests. Vijayakanth was earlier admitted to the hospital on November 18 and underwent treatment for respiratory illness. He subsequently made his first public appearance after his treatment on December 14, at the 18th DMDK general meeting, in the presence of his party cadre while being accompanied by wife Premalatha Vijayakanth and son Vijay Prabhakar Alagarswami and was the last meeting he attended.
தேமுதிக தலைவரும், நடிகருமான விஜயகாந்த் மரணம் குறித்து மருத்துவமனை நிர்வாகம் அறிக்கை!#Vijayakanth #DMDK #RIPVijayakanth #CaptainVijayakanth #GalattaNews pic.twitter.com/9asjM8YhvE
— Galatta Media (@galattadotcom) December 28, 2023
Vijayakanth had been a leading name in Tamil cinema having acted in 154 films after which he made his entry into politics by launching the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam party in 2005. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly twice and represented DMDK in the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies, with his political career reaching its highest point when he became the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016. Vijayakanth's health had taken a turn in recent years after which he stepped back from active politics.
