Why was CM at KEM?

Prithviraj Chavan paid a visit to the state-run hospital, purportedly to visit a relative, but also got tested for blood pressure

Barely weeks into his tenure as Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan had to make a visit to the civic-run KEM hospital yesterday afternoon.

Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM hospital, said, "Yes, the CM was here to visit one of his relatives. Meanwhile, we also checked his blood pressure."


CM Prithviraj Chavan

While the hospital authorities maintained that Chavan had come to see one of his relatives admitted at the Cardio Vascular Thoracic Centre of the hospital, sources told MiD DAY that he underwent a routine cardiovascular medical examination at the department.

His blood pressure was checked and an ECG test was done, said a source. Dr Praful Kelkar, head of the CVTC department, confirmed the visit but refused to divulge details of the examination.

Sources said the reports were normal. Dr Kelkar assisted Dr Ramakant Panda who had conducted a beating heart surgery on PM Manmohan Singh.

Reportedly, it is the PMO connection that drove the new CM to the state facility.