Three more sitting DMK MLAs have been tested positive for COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday as the cases soar in Tamil Nadu, leaving the legislators and ministers on the grounds of the viral infection amid the containment measures.

The three legislators of the state opposition party are Senguttuvan, Karthikeyan, and Gandhi representing Krishnagiri, Vellore, and Ranipet constituencies respectively. All three of them had confirmed to have contracted to the virus on Sunday and they have been getting treated under isolation.

With the latest three cases, eight DMK legislators have been affected by the virus so far. According to the reports, Senguttuvan (63) was admitted to a private hospital in Hosur on Saturday after he developed a mild fever and cough. The samples were collected from the lawmaker for COVID-19 testing and on Sunday, the results returned positive.

Senguttuvan was taken on a private hospital in Coimbatore on Sunday where he is currently treated. The health officials are currently tracing his contacts and collecting samples from them. His house and the party office were disinfected immediately after he spelled positive for the virus. 

The reports stated all three of them were seen in the midst of crowds. Last week, Senguttuvan has held protests against the ruling ADMK government in Krishnagiri which were attended by multiple people including traders and party members and he was also seen involved in the COVID-19 relief efforts and the other two legislators Gandhi and Karthikeyan had also attended the protests and private functions in their respective areas.

Gandhi and Karthikeyan had attended marriages and the confirmation of the duo getting contracted to the virus has led the health authorities to issue the directive to everyone who came in close proximity to the legislators to get isolated and tested for COVID-19. At the current state, over a dozen legislators from both ADMK and DMK parties have tested positive for the virus.

These legislators include four state ministers - KP Anbalagan, Thangamani, Sellur Raju, and Nilofeer Kafeel. Anbalagan and Sellur Raju have discharged while the rest two are under treatment. Of these legislators DMK's legislator J Anbalagan has succumbed to the virus on June 10, becoming the first legislator in the state to die due to the infection. 

On Sunday, Tamil Nadu has reported 4,979 new cases which had been recorded as the highest single-day rise since the outbreak and the state has reported 1,70,693 positive cases so far as of Sunday of which 50,294 are active, 1,17,915 have been discharged, and 2,481 had succumbed to the virus.