The Deputy Chief Minister was taken in by a hospital in Thane when he came down with a fever and was feeling rather weak, which put an end to any events on the books. According to those in the know, he is in stable shape. While the doctors run their numbers and make observations, his political associates are following the situation from close by.
What happened and current status
It was while the state legislature was in session on Friday that Shinde started to feel off, party people will tell you. He made his way to a private hospital in Thane that very day to be in the hands of some specialists.
Come Saturday, he was over at Jupiter Hospital in Thane for a bit of a check-up. They are looking into what’s behind a mild fever and some general tiredness. There is a team of physicians on top of it.
There has not been an official word from the medical side as of yet. But the leadership has made it clear: no need to be concerned. He is putting up well with the treatment.
Impact on schedule and party events
With this little health matter, the public side of things for Shinde has been put on ice. It has put a damper on some of the more high-profile political doings in the state.
In Thane, for instance, there was an induction for Shiv Sena’s Shubhangi Patil that had to be put back. The plan was to have it at 4 pm on Friday at the Gangubai Shinde Hall, but once he was in the hospital, that was out of the question.
They did get around to it in the small hours of Friday night, with MP Dr Shrikant Shinde in attendance. Patil was made part of the Shinde camp then and there.
Workload and political backdrop
He has been on the go a lot of late, with one thing after another. Some in the party put it down to the kind of physical toll a heavy workload can take over a few weeks.
You have to factor in the likes of Operation Tiger. In the course of that, six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray wing of the Shiv Sena and Mumbai Legislative Council member Sachin Ahir have come over to his side. He has been right in the middle of it all.
Hospital evaluation and health history
Since he was not feeling up to par on Friday, the doctors put him in for a routine sort of evaluation. They are in the process of figuring out where the fever and fatigue are coming from.
Jupiter is a familiar place for him when it comes to these matters. Back in December 2024, he was in with a throat infection and some weakness in the wake of a hard-fought election. The party called it a formality before he was let out.
Before he became Deputy Chief Minister in the present setup, he was the head of the state from 2022 to 2024. Given his standing in the ruling alliance and the Shiv Sena, his well-being is a point of interest.
What comes next
There is some back and forth between the hospital and the senior ranks of the government and the party. We should have more to report once the doctors are done with their work. For now, the expectation is that he will be back to it once the evaluation is through.
In the near term, one can anticipate:
– An update from the office or the hospital
– More of the same in terms of tests and observation
– Some rethinking of his public appearances
– The usual kind of coordination from the top of the party
Then again, it is monsoon in Maharashtra and viral bugs and the like are to be expected. The admission is just to be sure, and as sources say, he is in good order.
For anyone on the inside, the story is simple enough. He is in the care of specialists, his vitals are being seen to, and his people are minding the shop so he can have some rest.
The calendar may have to be fiddled with for a bit, but the overall plan is the same. When the doctors give the all-clear, we will see when he is back in the saddle for good.
