Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday to inquire about his health and wish him a speedy recovery. The discussion took place on the same day the 85-year-old veteran politician was discharged from Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic. Mr. Pawar had been admitted to the facility on November 2 after reporting symptoms of a persistent cough and pleuritic chest pain.
During the conversation, which was described by close associates as warm and affectionate, the Prime Minister reportedly encouraged Mr. Pawar to set aside his concerns regarding political and national responsibilities. According to accounts shared by Mr. Pawar’s close friend and aide, Vitthal Maniyar, the Prime Minister explicitly told the NCP (SP) leader that his daughter, Supriya Sule, was now ready and that other leaders were prepared to look after the country in his absence.
"Supriya Sule is ready, and we are ready to take care of the country. You need not worry about the country. Please take care of your health," Mr. Maniyar quoted the Prime Minister as saying. In response, the veteran leader thanked the Prime Minister for his call and expressed his appreciation for the gesture. Mr. Pawar reportedly assured Mr. Modi that he was not worried about the state of affairs, noting that with leaders like him active, the country remained in capable hands.
Following his discharge from the Pune hospital, Mr. Pawar was moved to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital for further routine medical examinations. His daughter, Supriya Sule, who is a Member of Parliament for Baramati and the working president of the NCP (SP), confirmed his admission through social media. Despite the follow-up medical visits, associates have maintained that his condition is stable and that there is no cause for public concern.
Dr. Purvez K. Grant, the Chief Cardiologist and Chairman of Ruby Hall Clinic, had issued an official statement confirming that Mr. Pawar was stable at the time of his release. The medical team noted that the discomfort experienced by the politician had subsided following treatment. Mr. Maniyar reiterated these findings, stating that all medical reports were satisfactory and that the leader was not facing any specific difficulties following his brief stay.
The term pleuritic chest pain, which prompted the initial hospitalisation, refers to discomfort that typically exacerbates during breathing, coughing, or sneezing. After the primary symptoms were addressed, doctors cleared Mr. Pawar for discharge, though the hospital indicated he would remain under observation as a precautionary measure to ensure his full recuperation. Supporters and party workers have been urged by aides to remain calm, with Mr. Maniyar expressing gratitude for the outpouring of affection and concern from across Maharashtra and the nation.
The conversation between the Prime Minister and the veteran leader highlights the personal rapport shared by the two political figures, despite their long-standing ideological differences. As Mr. Pawar continues his recovery in Mumbai, party members have indicated that he is doing well and is expected to regain his health following a period of complete rest as advised by his medical team and echoed by the Prime Minister during their exchange.
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