The NCP announced on Monday morning that party president Sharad Pawar would be admitted to hospital on March 31 for medical procedures after he experienced a "problem in his gall bladder".
Pawar, who turned 80 in December, had served three times as chief minister of Maharashtra and also as Union minister for defence and agriculture.
NCP leader Nawab Malik, a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government, tweeted "Sharad Pawar saheb was feeling a little uneasy due to a pain in his abdomen last evening (Sunday) and was therefore taken to Breach Candy Hospital for a check up. Upon diagnosis it came to light that he has a problem in his Gall Bladder."
Malik added, "He is on Blood Thinning Medication which is now being stopped due to this issue. He will be admitted in hospital on the 31st of March 2021 and an Endoscopy and Surgery will be conducted." Malik noted all programmes of Sharad Pawar had been cancelled until further notice.
Pawar had been diagnosed with oral cancer in 2004 but was successfully treated for it.
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Pawar was in the news recently after Home Minister Amit Shah hinted he had met Pawar and NCP leader Praful Patel in Ahmedabad. The reports of a 'secret meeting' set off speculation the BJP was attempting to woo the NCP to break away from the three-party alliance supporting the Uddhav Thackeray government.
However, Malik on Sunday denied there was any such meeting and referred to the reports as a "BJP conspiracy".
