Former ADMK Minister C Vijayabaskar has tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection on Thursday. Vijayabaskar was serving as the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu in the outgoing administration led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.  

According to reports, Vijayabaskar has isolated himself after contracting the pandemic. He had asked those who have come in direct contact with him in the last few days to get isolated. Taking to Twitter, Vijayabaskar wrote, "I have been tested positive for Covid19 today at the Public Health Lab. After my test, I have isolated myself and I request everyone who were in my contact to get tested. Kindly follow Covid guidelines and stay safe."

Vijayabaskar was one of the state leaders in the ADMK regime to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. He also had appealed to people to receive the vaccine. However, the state was stunned to learn the shocking message from the minister that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection. 

The reports say that the parents of the former health minister had tested positive for the pandemic a few days ago and the entire family of Vijayabaskar is observing self-quarantine. Vijayabaskar had contested in the 2021 assembly polls in the ADMK ticket from the Viralimalai constituency, Pudukottai district.

He had held several rounds of campaigns and rallies in his constituency for the last two months to retain the seat for the second consecutive time. In the recently-held polls, Vijayabaskar had contested a hard-fought race and took on DMK's Palaniyappan, MNM's Saravanan Ramadoss, NTK's Alagumeena, and AMMK's Karthi Prabhakaran. ADMK's Vijayabaskar had finally won the race and retained the seat by defeating the DMK candidate with a margin of 23,598 votes. 

I have been tested positive for #Covid19 today at the Public Health Lab. After my test, I have isolated myself and I request everyone who were in my contact to get tested. Kindly follow Covid guidelines and stay safe.

— Dr C Vijayabaskar (@Vijayabaskarofl) May 6, 2021