Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for his follow-up treatment.
Parrikar, 62, is currently undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa.
“He will be flying to Delhi around 10.30 am today by a special flight and would be admitted to AIIMS for his follow-up treatment,” a senior official from the Goa Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Parrikar had returned from the US in the first week of September following which he was admitted to the hospital at Candolim. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US.
According to various media reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party has started looking for options in the state in the wake of Parrikar’s worsening health.
Sources said Parrikar had Friday spoken to BJP president Amit Shah over phone, when the latter called to enquire about his health.
The Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee on Friday. The core committee members had later met Parrikar.
A BJP central team is expected to arrive in Goa soon to oversee political developments and speak to its party leaders, as well as assure allies over the future course of action.
Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai, who is one of the cabinet ministers who met Parrikar on Friday along with several other Cabinet colleagues, told reporters after the meeting that BJP central leaders would be arriving in Goa on Saturday to take stock of the situation.
On Friday, Parrikar made a surprise appearance at his ancestral residence in Parra village in North Goa district to pay his respects to Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and also convened a meeting of senior cabinet ministers as well as the core committee of the state BJP — his first meeting involving political leaders from his own party and allies since his return.
State BJP general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavde, however, said no political issues were discussed at the meeting.
(With agency inputs)