When an OPD procedure for CLP leader Siddaramaiah gave his supporters tense moments

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BySouth First Desk

Published Dec 03, 2022 | 3:57 PMUpdatedApr 11, 2023 | 5:43 PM

Siddaramaiah

Congress Legislative Party leader in Karnataka Siddaramaiah visited a private hospital for a minor procedure on Friday, 2 December, While the 75-year-old Siddaramaiah returned home by evening, his associates had a harrowing time responding to queries from his supporters, colleagues and even journalists on the former chief minister’s health.

As soon as news of Siddaramaiah visiting a hospital became public, phones of his associates rang nonstop. Most questions, apparently, centered around “what about the election”?

With elections barely months away and Siddaramaiah keen on returning to the chief minister’s chair, despite the stiff competition he has from within the party and outside, it seems the visit to the hospital sent his followers into a tizzy. His health history — of cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension — didn’t really calm anyone’s nerves.

“It was a minor surgery. It has been performed successfully and he was discharged in the evening. He has had a complete health check-up. He has no other aliments at the moment. He has been advised bed rest for three days,” Varuna MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who is the youngest son of the former chief minister, told South First.

“All the scheduled programmes have been called-off. He will take part in party and public events only after Wednesday. He will be at his Bengaluru residence,” Siddaramaiah’s personal assistant told South First.

Siddaramaiah was admitted as an OPD patient at Manipal Hospital located on the old Airport Road early on Friday morning.

Siddaramaiah had undergone an angioplasty in December 2019. He was also admitted in hospital with Covid in August 2020, and was discharged after 10 days. In 2021, he was again admitted to the hospital after he had complained of high fever. He was discharged the same day.