Chennai mourns the loss of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam (DMDK) founder-leader and iconic Tamil actor, Vijayakanth, who passed away at the age of 71 following an illness. The news comes after the actor-politician was admitted to a hospital and put on ventilator support due to breathing problems.
Vijayakanth, widely known as ‘Captain,’ transitioned from a successful career in the Tamil film industry, featuring in 154 movies, to a prominent political figure. His contributions at Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes’ Association) brought transformative changes to the South film industry.
In 2005, Vijayakanth founded the DMDK and entered the political arena. The party faced its share of challenges, securing only 10% of the total vote share in the 2006 assembly elections. However, a historic alliance with AIADMK in 2011 catapulted the DMDK into prominence, winning 26 out of 41 contested constituencies and becoming the principal Opposition Party.
Vijayakanth served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011 to 2016. Subsequently, due to differences with AIADMK, the DMDK lost its main Opposition party status as party members resigned en masse.
Despite health complications, Vijayakanth, a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly, represented the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies. The DMDK’s performance in the 2014 parliamentary elections, in alliance with the NDA, faced a setback, leading to a decline in vote percentage.
In the 2016, 2019, and 2021 elections, the DMDK struggled to regain its political standing as Vijayakanth battled health issues. The passing of this iconic figure marks the end of an era, leaving a void in both the Tamil film industry and the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.
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