Senior leader and NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar was transferred from Baramati to Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic on Monday afternoon (February 9) after his health deteriorated, his office said. Doctors recommended the shift following the development of a cough and breathing difficulty. He is currently under close medical observation. His wife, Pratibha Pawar, daughter, Supriya Sule, and son-in-law, Sadanand Sule, have also arrived at the hospital.
Ruby Hall Clinic’s chief cardiologist and managing trustee, Dr Parvez Grant, confirmed the development, stating that a medical team would assess Sharad Pawar upon arrival and decide the next course of action based on their findings. Sharad Pawar is an oral cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with the condition in the late 1990s and later underwent multiple surgeries, both in India and the United States, as part of his treatment.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s nephew, Shrinivas Pawar, said that Sharad Pawar had been experiencing persistent coughing since Sunday night (February 8) and seemed to have chest congestion. He was then brought to Pune for hospitalisation. Despite the recent passing of his nephew and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar continued to interact with people and attend public engagements.
Doctors are expected to offer further clarity on his condition after completing their evaluation and reviewing his response to treatment. The development comes days after Ajit Pawar lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati. The private aircraft he was travelling in crashed on January 28, killing all five people on board. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered an investigation into the incident.