Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Sharad Pawar on Wednesday, November 4, to enquire about his health. Modi told the veteran leader, “Saheb, please take complete rest. Supriya is ready now.” This exchange sparked political talk in Maharashtra, as Union Minister Ramdas Athawale suggested Sule could join the Union Cabinet soon.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported phone call to Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has triggered fresh political speculation in Maharashtra, after the PM reportedly told the veteran leader that his daughter, Supriya Sule, was "ready to help take care of the country".

According to Vitthal Maniyar, a close aide of Sharad Pawar, Modi called the 85-year-old politician on Wednesday, November 4, to enquire about his health and advised him to take complete rest.

“Saheb, please take complete rest. Supriya is ready now. Supriya and we will take care of the country. You rest; this is my request,” Maniyar quoted Modi as telling Pawar, speaking to reporters in Pune.

Maniyar said Pawar responded that he was resting and had no worries about the country. Pawar also thanked the Prime Minister for enquiring about his health, the aide said.

Neither Modi nor Sharad Pawar had publicly confirmed the reported exchange at the time of publication.

Union Minister says Sule could get a berth in Cabinet

Union minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) president Ramdas Athawale claimed on Wednesday that NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule could be considered for a position in the Union Cabinet during its next expansion if she joined the ruling NDA.

Athawale said it would be a matter of joy if Sule, who represents the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said her joining the alliance would be welcomed and claimed that she could be considered for a berth in the next Cabinet expansion.

Sharad Pawar faces health issues

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was re-admitted to a hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday, hours after he was discharged from a multi-speciality healthcare centre in Pune for further tests.

Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule said in a social media post that her father has been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital here.

Earlier in the day, the 85-year-old veteran politician was discharged from Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, where he was admitted on November 2, following complaints of cough and pleuritic (chest) pain.