DMK's senior leader and party's MLA J Anbazhagan has passed away on Wednesday due to the Coronavirus pandemic at the private hospital in Chennai. He has become the first sitting legislator in the state to succumb to the virus. He was aged 62 and died on his birthday, ending his COVID-19 battle by leaving his fellow party members with huge grief.

Anbazhagan has passed away at Dr.Rela Institute and Medical Centre in Chrompet, Chennai where he was getting treated since June 2nd for the virus infection. The eclectic leader had breathed his last on Wednesday morning as his health condition had been worsening and remained under the critical state. He was under the ventilator support since his admission to stabilize his oxygen.

He was admitted to the hospital after he developed discomforts to his health and he was then tested positive for the virus following which he was getting treated at the COVID-19 center of the hospital. While his health had shown an improvement last week, it went to the critical state on Monday. According to the hospital bulletin, the legislator's health condition started deteriorating by Monday evening.

His existing chronic kidney disease had also worsened and the hospital described his health condition as critical. The legislator was initially getting 90% of oxygen through the ventilator and he was then given 40% of oxygen through the ventilator since his health attained a slight improvement. However, his health has gone worse on Monday, and Monday's bulletin was the last from the hospital as it hasn't issued any note on his health thereafter.

When the party members hoped for his recovery, he has succumbed to the virus on Wednesday morning turning his 62nd birthday as his death day. According to the hospital, he breathed his last at 8.05 am. Anbazhagan was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Chepauk Consititueny, Chennai and he had served as MLA three times including his current term.

Previously, he served as MLA from T Nagar, Chennai in 2001, and Chepauk Constituency in 2011 and 2016. Anbazhagan was known to be one of the strongest supporters of party's president MK Stalin and he was one among the top leaders maintained close ties with the party's high command. 

Apart from serving in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, he was serving as one of the party's secretaries in Chennai and he was also a film distributor. He has also caught up with controversies several times through his fierce speech both in and outside the assembly. He was active on social media and for the past few months, he was also active on the grounds and provided relief materials to the affected people in Chennai in the wake of the lockdown. 

He would have infected by the virus while carrying out the relief materials in the COVID-19 hotspots in Chennai. He has undergone a liver transplant surgery 25 years ago which was only his known co-morbid condition. When the legislator was getting treated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Health Minister has visited the treating doctors and enquired about his health conditions on June 5.  

After his demise, DMK President MK Stalin has said that "My mind refuses to accept that Anbazhagan has passed away, his demise speared a thunder in my heart". The party's president had further stated that the party would be mourning for his loss for three days and the party's flag would be lowered to half-mast and all the scheduled programs have been deferred.

இடியும் மின்னலும் ஒருசேர இறங்கியது!

மக்கள் பணியில் அர்ப்பணித்துக்கொண்டு, தியாக தீபமாக சுடர்விட்டொளிரும் சகோதரர் @JAnbazhagan ஐ எப்படி மறப்பேன்? நானே தேம்பி அழும் நிலையில், அன்புவின் குடும்பத்தார்க்கும், உடன்பிறப்புகளுக்கும் எப்படி ஆறுதல் சொல்வேன்? இனி எப்போது பாச முகம் காண்பேன்?

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 10, 2020

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has expressed his condolences to the deceased's family and Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam has reached out to MK Stalin and placed his condolences to the legislator. Anbazhagan was surviving by his wife and two children. According to the reports, DMK has lost four MLAs in the span of one year - Radhamani - Vikkravandi MLA, Kathavarayan - Gudiyatham - KKP Samy - Thiruvottiyur, and Anbazhagan - Chepauk. The reports say that the mortal remains of the deceased will be handed over to the Chennai Corporation.