Vijayakanth, the actor-turned-politician and founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai for a routine health check-up on Wednesday and is currently in a stable condition, the party said in a press release.
The statement was issued after a report by UNI stated that Vijaykanth was admitted to Chennai’s MIOT Hospital early on Wednesday after he complained of breathing problems. However, within hours of his hospitalisation, DMDK released a statement clarifying that Vijayakanth was doing well and was admitted for a health check-up.
“DMDK chief, Captain Vijayakanth has been admitted to a private hospital in Chennai for his routine health check-up. Currently, the hospital has said that Captain’s health is stable. He will return home after a couple of days. Please do not believe in any rumours surrounding his health,” read the statement.
According to the DMDK, Vijayakanth will be discharged in a couple of days.
In September 2020, Vijayakanth tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to MIOT Hospital after he displayed mild symptoms. Soon, his wife and politician Premalatha also tested positive and was admitted to the same hospital. After receiving treatment for 10 days, the couple was discharged on October 2.
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Vijayakanth, who is fondly called Captain, has acted in over 150 films in a career spanning over three decades. He formed the DMDK in 2005 and won 29 out of 41 seats in the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, he had been keeping a low profile in politics due to his ill health for a few years.
While the party contested in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in April, by forming an alliance with TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam, the Vijayakanth and Premalatha-led DMDK fared poorly and lost in all the 60 seats it had contested. Premalatha, the party’s treasurer, who made her poll debut by contesting in the Virudhachalam constituency came third.