Leaders throng Breach Candy to see Sharad Pawar, whose health is said to be improving

A stream of political leaders has been visiting NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, while many others have rung up to ask after him. Sources close to the family say his health is improving and he could go home today or tomorrow.

Pawar fell unwell while touring drought-hit areas of Solapur. He was due to go to Dudhali in Pandharpur taluka on November 1 and then to Bhum-Paranda taluka. On November 2 he was admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital in Pune with a cough, weakness and chest pain, described by Mid-day as pleuritic. Two days later he was discharged and shifted to Breach Candy for further tests. One report says he was brought back only a few hours after leaving Ruby Hall.

Dr Pratit Samdani of Breach Candy said Pawar's condition is stable and that he will be kept under observation as a precaution. The hospital is treating what is described as a respiratory and chest infection. His daughter and MP Supriya Sule is with him. She had said earlier that his tests were under way and all his health parameters were stable.

NCP leader and MP Praful Patel, a long-time associate, met Pawar late on Wednesday night and again on Thursday, and the two spoke for a long while, by one account about an hour and a half. A video from the meeting is said to show Pawar telling Patel that they would sit together after the 10th. Patel's visit set off political talk, with some saying he went to press a point. There is said to be friction between Parth Pawar and senior leaders, and members of Ajit Pawar's NCP have alleged that Parth takes decisions without informing them. Afterwards Patel said he had paid a courtesy call on "respected Shri Sharad Pawar Saheb" and asked after his health. One report says Ajit Pawar accompanied Patel.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also called on Pawar. Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Sunetra Pawar has visited too. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut met him and gave him a copy of his book "Bodh Kirtan". His party colleague, MP Anil Desai, and MLA Rana Jagjitsinh Patil also came.

Industrialist Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, reached the hospital early on Friday, November 6, and enquired about Pawar's health. The two are known to be close, and Adani had inaugurated the AI centre in Baramati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Pawar on Wednesday, November 4. Family friend and close associate Vitthal Maniyar confirmed the call to reporters outside the hospital. One account quotes Modi as saying: "You guided the country for so many years. Now Supriya Sule and we will look after the country. You just take care of your health and give us your blessings." Maniyar's version has the Prime Minister saying: "Supriya and we will look after the country. Take care of your health and rest. May your blessings stay with us." Pawar thanked him, said he was resting, and added: "With all of you there, I have no worry about the country."

MNS president Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also telephoned. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are reported to have called as well.