Mulayam down with swine flu, party says nothing to worry

Gurgaon/Lucknow, March 7: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is suffering from swine flu and has been admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon, a doctor said on Saturday. His party, however, said there is no need to worry.

Mulayam Singh was admitted at Medanta Medicity hospital in Sector 38.

A.K. Dubey, medical superintendent of the hospital, told IANS: "Mulayam Singh is responding to the treatment. His parameters are stable but we can't say when he will be discharged."

A team of doctors headed by Sushila Kataria is monitoring his condition.

Sources said Mulayam Singh was brought to the hospital at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.

He is also undegoing tests under the supervision of cardiologist Naresh Trehan, a party spokesman said.

"Mulayam Singh was undergoing some tests at Medanta under the supervision of eminent cardiologist Naresh Trehan," said Rajendra Chowdhary, party spokesman and cabinet minister, said in Lucknow on Saturday.

"Doctors have advised him rest for three days and there is no reason to worry over his health," he added.

Family sources said he reported of unease, high fever and breathlessness for most of the week and the step was taken after his condition showed no improvement.

The family and close aides initially mistook it to be exhaustion, following a hectic month due to marriage of Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap, his grandnephew, and his engagement with the budget session in parliament.

Yadav has been unwell for the past few days and had taken ill on Wednesday noon after which he was admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow.

Top doctors reviewed his condition and suggested some more tests, including that for swine flu, an insider told IANS.

He was discharged on late Thursday on account of Holi but was advised to "take complete rest, not to mingle with crowds and to take light food".

Yadav was earlier scheduled to go to Saifai, his native village for the routine Holi celebrations, but the trip was cancelled. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and his son Akhilesh Yadav cancelled his Berlin trip and went to Saifai instead.

IANS