Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has not been seen in public since he underwent a cervical spine surgery on November 12. Thackeray was discharged on December 2 and his office said his health was improving. Dr Ajit Desai and Dr Shekhar Bhojraj performed the surgery on him at Mumbai’s H.N. Reliance Hospital. A November 12 release by the chief minister’s office said Thackeray was responding well and had been shifted to a separate room. His older son Aaditya, also the state minister for environment and tourism, was in the UK at the time of the surgery to attend the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP-26.

Since his surgery, Thackeray has attended a few online meetings of his cabinet. Close aide and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut has been the only party official to have met him since the surgery. Thackeray attended the wedding of Raut’s daughter Peeyushi on November 30 through a video call. Thackeray also skipped a November 17 remembrance ceremony for his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, at the latter’s Shivaji Park memorial.

On December 17, Thackeray visited the state legislature at Mumbai’s Nariman Point to carry out what is believed was a mock drill to test his ability to attend the state assembly’s winter session, beginning December 22. The chief minister entered his chamber and occupied his seat in the assembly, his secretary and a police officer in tow. He did not, however, attend the winter session eventually.

On December 22, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil sought a health update on Thackeray, who he said had been missing from public for 45 days. “There is speculation that Rashmi Vahini (Rashmi Thackeray, Uddhav’s wife) will be made chief minister soon. How true is this?” Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar clarified Thackeray was fit and healthy: “He will attend the session soon.”

Raut says Thackeray is recovering fast. “He takes walks. Most importantly, he can work. He has been signing the [work] files,” says Raut.

Thackeray was last seen at a public function on November 1 when he hosted a Diwali reception for journalists at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in Malabar Hill. (The chief minister switches between ‘Varsha’ and his family residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra.) The meet and greet had been organised in a car park and Thackeray sat on a chair some distance away from his guests, in what those present believed were Covid-19 protocols. He went back to his office after half an hour, leaving wife Rashmi Thackeray to speak to the journalists. Thackeray returned later and stood and chatted with guests for 20 minutes, apologising for not interacting with them. “I have started feeling pain in my legs over the last two days after a cycling exercise. You can understand my situation,” Thackeray said. Someone present asked in a lighter vein when he was planning to get a bride for Aaditya. “Now, you only convince him,” he said before leaving.

On November 9, Thackeray sported a cervical collar at an online meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He issued a statement two days later to clarify he needed to undergo surgery on his cervical spine as an old aliment had resurfaced. “I neglected the neck pain for some time owing to the challenges posed due to pandemic and it has taken its toll,” the statement read.

A health expert told INDIA TODAY, on condition of anonymity, that the cycling exercise had triggered off an old back ailment. Thackeray is an avid aerial and wildlife photographer and has published several books on wildlife and aerial shoots of sea and hill forts of the Maratha empire and the Pandharpur temple yatra. The grueling days spent from lying motionless for the perfect photograph and leaning out of a helicopter seem to have caused the spine and lower back problems. Hopefully these are issues that can be solved with rest and recuperation and Thackeray can get back to his task of running one of India’s largest and most important states.

Click here for IndiaToday.in’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Paytm's D-Street debut disappoints as it lists at 9% discount

India aims to become key semi-conductor manufacturer: PM Modi at Sydney Dialogue

Moto G Power (2022) with Helio G37 SoC, 5000mAh battery launched: Price, specifications 

Samantha is all set to become a bridal makeup artist

Watch: Doctors react to PM's announcement of vaccine for children

Salman Khan discharged after treatment for snake bite

States impose curbs to mitigate Covid-19 spread | Details

Covaxin gets approval for emergency use for children aged 12, above

Watch | UP Woman Fires Shots To Celebrate Birthday, Case Filed

Ludhiana court blast: Khalistani links found, role of Pak's ISI suspected, says Punjab DGP

Watch: Ban on Christmas parties, large gatherings amid Omicron scare

PM Modi addresses nation, announces Covid booster doses from January | FULL SPEECH | Watch

Copyright © 2021 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today

Add IndiaToday to Home Screen