Reputed Actor and President of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Vijayakanth has tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection on Wednesday, leaving his fans and party members to a deep shock and they have been expressing their prayers and wishes to the leader for his speedy recovery. 

According to reports, Vijayakanth has been getting treated at MIOT hospitals in Manappakam, Chennai after confirmed to have contracted to the pandemic. It is said that he could have contracted to the novel coronavirus when he attended the party event that was recently held at the party headquarters in Koyambedu. 

The party had organized the event on September 14 to mark and celebrate the 16th annual day of DMDK. Vijayakanth, his wife and DMDK Treasurer Premalatha, and DMDK leader Sudhish had taken part in the event that was attended by hundreds of party members, amid grounds of the rapid spread of the pandemic in Chennai. 

During the event, Vijayakanth had hoisted the party flag and he issued the statement with the hope of having a revival during the upcoming assembly polls. He said DMDK will win the election with a huge margin. Nearly ten days later, he has now spelled positive for the pandemic and has been hospitalized in the city. 

Vijayakanth has already been suffering from prolonging kidney and liver-related ailments and he has been receiving treatments at home and abroad. He hasn't made any public appearance at the large-scale events for the past few years and refrained from meeting more members. He was discharging his duties as the party leader from his home while his wife Premalatha took to grounds and was seen as the party's face at the public events. 

Following the development, his fans, party members, and political leaders have been extending their prayers and wishes to the 68-year-old hospitalized leader for his speedy recovery. DMK President MK Stalin took to Twitter and said, "I learned that DMDK President and dear friend Vijayakanth is being treated at the hospital for poor health. I express my great desire that he should recover soon and act with full enthusiasm again in public service".

தே.மு.தி.க. தலைவரும் அருமை நண்பருமான @iVijayakant அவர்கள் உடல்நலக் குறைவினால் மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வருவதை அறிந்தேன்.

அவர் விரைவில் முழுநலம் பெற்று பொதுப்பணியில் மீண்டும் முழு உற்சாகத்துடன் செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்ற எனது பெருவிருப்பத்தைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 24, 2020

On Thursday, DMDK has issued the official press release concerning his health condition in which it has said, "Its regular practice that Vijayakanth would undergo a health checkup at MIOT Hospitals for every six months and as he went for a checkup recently in which it was confirmed that Vijayakanth has a mild COVID-19 viral infection. However, he is fully recovered and doing stable now". 

Prayers have been pouring in for his speedy recovery and according to the state health department, as of Wednesday - September 23, Tamil Nadu has reported 5,57,999 positive cases so far of which 46,249 are active, 5,02,740 have been recovered, and 9,010 had succumbed to the viral infection. So far, dozens of MLAs in Tamil Nadu including senior ministers had tested positive for the pandemic.