2 days after Dussehra rally, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray hospitalised in Mumbai

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray was admitted to Reliance Hospital in Mumbai on Monday after feeling unwell. According to party sources, Thackeray, who has a history of heart-related issues, was undergoing tests to detect possible blockages in his arteries, with an angiography expected soon. The 63-year-old leader is likely to be discharged later today.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is unwell and is at Reliance Hospital for a check-up. He has a history of angioplasty and is currently undergoing tests to identify blockages in his heart arteries, with angiography likely to follow pic.twitter.com/FBXWIHpo14

¡ª IANS (@ians_india) October 14, 2024

Uddhav Thackeray undergoing surgery?

This is not the first time the former CM has dealt with heart-related issues. Back in 2012, Thackeray underwent an angioplasty where doctors inserted eight stents to clear multiple blockages in three of his major arteries. Later that same year, he underwent a second angioplasty to clear a 60% blockage in his left anterior descending artery (LAD). He was also hospitalised in 2016 for a follow-up angiography at Lilavati Hospital.

Uddhav Thackeray's Dussehra speech

Thackeray¡¯s health concerns resurfaced shortly after his fiery Dussehra rally speech in Mumbai on October 12, where he strongly criticized the ruling Mahayuti government and the Centre. It is believed that he began experiencing uneasiness following the high-energy address, prompting his medical team to recommend further tests to ensure there were no complications.

However, Thackeray recently made waves when he publicly declared that he would back any chief ministerial candidate chosen by Congress or NCP (Sharad Pawar¡¯s faction), stating that his primary goal is to ¡°save¡± Maharashtra. This statement came on the heels of a major blow to the Congress in Haryana, where the party suffered a significant defeat, adding a layer of urgency to opposition unity talks in Maharashtra.

Despite these health scares, Uddhav Thackeray has remained active in Maharashtra¡¯s political scene. Just days before his hospital visit, Thackeray dodged a major political question during a press briefing in Mumbai about the Maha Vikas Aghadi¡¯s (MVA) chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. When pressed on who would be the MVA¡¯s face for the top job, he cleverly shifted the spotlight onto the ruling Mahayuti, stating, "Let them announce their CM face first, then we¡¯ll let you know who ours is."

As Thackeray continues his recovery, all eyes remain on his next political move¡ªwhether it¡¯s as a CM candidate or kingmaker in Maharashtra¡¯s increasingly heated political landscape.