Actor-politician and DMDK founder Vijayakanth passes away at 71

Guwahati: Veteran Tamil actor and politician Vijayakanth, founder-leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

He died at the age of 71 due to illness.

Vijayakanth, fondly known as 'Captain', enjoyed a prolific film career before entering politics.

He starred in over 154 movies and made significant contributions to the South Indian film industry through his work with the Nadigar Sangam.

Also Read: 24 states including Assam get NGT notice over groundwater contamination

In 2005, he founded the DMDK, aiming to represent the concerns of the downtrodden in Tamil Nadu.

The party achieved its peak performance in the 2011 Assembly elections, contesting in alliance with the AIADMK and winning 26 seats. Vijayakanth served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2016.

Also Read: Assam: Three arrested with fake gold at Guwahati railway station

However, the DMDK later faced internal strife and electoral decline, particularly as Vijayakanth battled health issues in recent years.

The party fared poorly in the 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2021 elections.