Sharad Pawar hospitalised in Ruby Hall clinic, Pune

NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar was hospitalised in the Ruby Hall clinic on Monday afternoon following complaints related to the throat as well as coughing.

He was taken to the Pune hospital from his residence in Baramati.

Ruby Hall Clinic chief cardiologist and managing trustee Dr Parvez Grant confirmed the development to PTI, saying, "Upon arrival, a team of doctors will check him and accordingly further course of action will be decided."


This comes days after his nephew Ajit Pawar lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati, creating a political vacuum in Maharashtra politics, beyond the NCP.

Ajit's death also raised questions over his successor as deputy chief minister, which was later occupied by Sunetra Pawar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Sharad Pawar to express his condolences, a move that underlined the veteran leader's continuing influence and signalled how Ajit's absence could reshape both NCP and BJP strategies.

Ajit Pawar's death was followed by a wide-ranging merger talk between the two factions with leaders claiming that merger talks were in advanced stages and Ajit Pawar had finalised February 12 as the date to announce reunification between the rival factions.

However, Sharad Pawar recently said that currently their priority is to support each other and then decide how to go ahead.

On merger talks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that if the merger talks were really in progress, then Ajit Pawar would have shared details with him.

Asked about Fadnavis's remarks, Sharad Pawar told reporters, "I do not understand, what right he has to mention my name? As he was nowhere in the merger talks, he has no right to comment on it." He added that NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and NCP head Ajit Pawar had been leading the merger talks.