Upset over the delay in Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, a supporter of Vijay tried to kill himself by self-immolation.
The man, identified as Isakkiyappan, a resident of a village near Chettikulam in Tirunelveli district and serving as the deputy secretary of the Volunteers Wing of the Valliyoor Union in TVK, sustained severe burn injuries in an attempted self-immolation and has been admitted to the hospital.
He reportedly doused himself with kerosene and set himself ablaze. Bystanders extinguished flames and rushed him to a nearby hospital. He was later shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Asaripallam.
According to media reports, he was distressed over the inordinate delay in the swearing-in of Vijay as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
Isakkiyappan had gained attention recently when he pierced his body with a 16-foot-long spear (vel) as a form of penance to ensure Vijay wins in the assembly elections.
Police sources have been quoted as saying Isakkiyappan was worried about the political developments in the state after the election results were announced and Vijay's TVK emerged as the single-largest party, but failed to reach the majority mark.
The TVK, as of now, has 108 MLAs, and has the support of five from the Congress, and two each from the CPI and CPI(M). However, his party remains two seats short of the majority mark.