Chennai:

Tamil Nadu MLA J Anbazhagan, who had tested positive for coronavirus, died in a Chennai hospital this morning. Anbazhagan, 61, a DMK MLA, was admitted to hospital on June 2 over “severe acute respiratory distress” and had tested positive for COVID-19 at the time.

He was put on ventilator support on June 3 when his breathing trouble worsened. His condition deteriorated on Monday evening, according to Dr Rela Hospital.

“His oxygen requirement has gone up once again and his cardiac function also is deteriorating requiring medicine support for blood pressure. His existing chronic kidney disease is also worsening. His condition currently is described as critical,” it said.

When the MLA was admitted to hospital, his party DMK, the opposition in Tamil Nadu, stepped up its allegations that the state government had failed in tackling the virus crisis.

Anbazhagan is the first big political leader to die of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu.

Many in the ruling AIADMK allege he caught the infection while participating in MK Stalin’s events to provide relief to people stranded by the coronavirus lockdown.