Sharad Pawar in Pune's Ruby Hall Clinic with chest infection, family says no cause for worry

Veteran politician Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and a former Union Agriculture Minister, has been admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune after his health worsened. He was taken to hospital on Monday on the advice of doctors, and a team of specialists is treating him.

Pawar, who is 85, had been on a three-day tour of drought-hit areas of Solapur, Dharashiv, Beed and nearby districts. On Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, he visited Tulshi village in Madha taluka and Dudhali village in Pandharpur taluka of Solapur district. At Tulshi he studied the drought situation at close quarters, spoke to farmers, listened to their problems and promised firmly that he would carry them to the government. The constant travel left him with phlegm, a cough and weakness. His drought tour planned for Monday was called off, and he returned from Solapur directly to Pune and the hospital.

His daughter and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has kept the public informed through posts on X. She wrote: "Baba has a cough problem, so he has been admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune. Various health tests are being conducted there. All his health parameters are completely normal and stable. I will keep giving everyone updates on his health from time to time." In her later update she said Pawar has a chest infection and must complete a five-day course of antibiotics. His other reports are normal, she said, and there is no cause for worry. She thanked everyone who had sent good wishes and the doctors looking after him.

Dr Purvez K. Grant, the hospital's chief cardiologist, chairman and managing trustee, also issued a statement. "Sharad Pawar has been admitted to hospital because of a routine health check-up and pleuritic pain in the lungs. As a precaution, he has been kept under the doctors' observation," he said. Doctors expect his condition to stabilise soon. Pleuritic pain is a form of chest pain felt more while breathing, coughing or sneezing, and it is caused by inflammation of the membrane around the lungs.

Pawar's office had earlier said he would rest at the hospital for the next two days, and that a date for discharge would be decided on the doctors' advice once all the necessary tests are done.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar visited the hospital to ask after him. She told reporters that his condition is under control and that the treatment is moving in the right direction.

Party workers from across Maharashtra have started for Pune after news of the admission. Rohit Pawar appealed to them not to come to the hospital, saying Sharad Pawar is stable at present and that crowds could hinder his treatment. The family is giving updates on his health from time to time.