Chennai/IBNS: Actor-politician Vijayakanth on Thursday, who was on a ventilator support after testing positive for Covid-19, passed away on Thursday, media reports said.

He was 71.

Vijayakanth, who was the head of DMDK, was suffering from illness.

He was brought to hospital and kept on ventilator support following his complaints of breathing.

Earlier in November, Vijayakanth was admitted to a hospital as he was suffering from cough and throat pain.

Vijayakanth, who predominantly worked in Tamil films like 'Sagaptham', 'Madura Veeran', founded DMDK in 2005.

He was the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly from 2011 to 2016.