Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar tests positive for Covid-19, hospitalised

State Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, on Monday, informed that he has tested positive for Coronavirus. After his visit to Solapur, Pawar had complained of feeling tired. On Thursday, October 22, he had informed that he has quarantined at home and resumed his office work from his official residence 'Devagiri'.

Currently, Pawar is admitted in Breach Candy Hospital. It is said that Ajit Pawar is asymptomatic but as advised by his doctors got himself admitted as a precautionary measure.

Pawar recently visited several areas in Pune and Solapur districts to inspect the damage caused by the return rains. After returning home from the tour, he developed a fever and got tested for coronavirus as a precautionary measure. 

Pawar in a message has mentioned, "My health is perfect. After a bit of rest, I shall be in your midst soon". He also appealed to all, including NCP activists, to take care and not worry about his condition.

Due to this ill-health, Ajit Pawar did not attend a major public function NCP organised last week to welcome senior state politician Eknath Khadse in the party. Khadse quit the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and joined the NCP last week.

On Sunday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Sunday said he had tested positive for Coronavirus. Apart from the Governor, last week, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis had tested positive for the coronavirus. He was touring in the flood-affected parts of Maharashtra to take stock of the situation recently. Fadnavis, the election in-charge for Bihar, has also been rallying in the eastern state for the upcoming assembly elections. 

Pawar is the 16th member of Uddhav Thackeray’s council of ministers to be infected with COVID-19. Earlier, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant, Public Works Minister Ashok Chavan, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Energy Minister Nitin Raut, Mumbai City Guardian Minister Aslam Sheikh, Sunil Kedar, Varsha Gaikwad, Vishwajeet Kadam, Dhananjay Munde, Jitendra Awhad, Abdul Sattar, Balasaheb Patil, Hasan Mushrif and Sanjay Bansode, all of them had tested positive for the contagious disease.