NCP's Praful Patel meets Sharad Pawar at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai to inquire about health

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Praful Patel met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at Breach Candy Hospital on Thursday to enquire about his health.The meeting came days after a group of senior NCP leaders, including Patel, met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi. (@praful_patel/X)The 85-year-old Pawar is undergoing treatment at the south Mumbai hospital for a chest and respiratory infection. The hospital said his condition was stable.Also Read | PM Modi calls Sharad Pawar, advises rest as NCP (SP) chief discharged from hospitalThe meeting came days after a group of senior NCP leaders, including Patel, met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi, triggering speculation about turmoil within the regional party. The NCP, however, denied any internal rift.People aware of the matter said Pawar enquired about what transpired at the meeting with Shah, but Patel told media that no political discussions had taken place.Also Read | Sharad Pawar hospitalised, cuts short drought-hit areas tour“I keep meeting Pawar Saheb and Supriya Sule on and off as we share family ties. We did not discuss politics, as a hospital is not a place for it,” Patel told reporters at the hospital.He added: “Saheb, in his own style, laughingly asked what is going on in politics.”Also Read | Sharad Pawar hospitalised in Mumbai hours after discharge in PuneThe Sharad Pawar-founded NCP split in 2023 after a group of party leaders, including Patel, joined the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra under the leadership of late Ajit Pawar. Subsequently, the Ajit Pawar faction got the party name and its symbol, while Sharad Pawar's group became NCP (SP).