The founding leader of the Indian party "DMDK" and renowned actor Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai after battling illness at the age of 71. The party announced through a post on its official account on the social media platform "X" that Vijayakanth had been hospitalized and placed on a ventilator after complaining of breathing difficulties, and it was determined that he was infected with COVID-19. Vijayakanth’s life, widely known as "Captain," is marked by a successful career in the Tamil film industry, where he appeared in 154 films before entering politics.
While serving in Nadigar Sangam (officially known as the South India Artists Association), Vijayakanth made revolutionary changes in the southern film industry and founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam party in 2005. In 2006, the DMDK contested all council seats and received a meager 10 percent of the total votes; however, none of the party's candidates, except the founding leader, were successful. Vijayakanth served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011 to 2016, and due to ideological differences, DMDK severed ties with AIADMK, leading to mass resignations of DMDK MLAs. As a result, the party lost its status as the main opposition party and served as a member of the legislative assembly twice, representing the Virdhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.
