Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar visited a Mumbai hospital on Thursday for a follow-up consultation after receiving treatment for a chest and respiratory infection, sources told PTI.
The 85-year-old former Union minister was initially admitted to Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic on November 2. He was discharged on November 4 and admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai later that day. He was discharged from the Mumbai hospital on November 7.
“Pawar Saheb visited the hospital for follow-up of his treatment for chest and respiratory infection for which he was hospitalised last week,” a source told PTI.
Sharad Pawar was admitted to two hospitals
Pawar’s hospitalisation last week had drawn attention from political circles, particularly after several leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar met him during his treatment.
The meetings fuelled speculation about a possible merger between the two factions of the NCP. The party split in 2023 after Ajit Pawar and several MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, while Sharad Pawar continued to lead the faction that later became known as the NCP (SP).
A video showing Sharad Pawar speaking to NCP leader Praful Patel from his hospital bed had further added to the speculation.
Sunetra Pawar responds to merger speculation
Asked about the possibility of a merger between the two NCP factions, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday said that things would become clear at the appropriate time.
Her remarks came amid continued speculation following meetings between leaders of the two factions during Sharad Pawar’s hospitalisation.
Responding to reporters’ queries about the merger possibility, Sunetra Pawar said, “I know all of you are more interested in a different issue at present. However, today’s subject is entirely different. Things (about the merger) will be known when the time comes.”
She was addressing a press conference held to announce programmes marking the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda on November 15.
However, no formal announcement regarding a merger has been made. Sharad Pawar’s visit to the hospital on Thursday was for a follow-up consultation related to his recent chest and respiratory infection, sources told PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
