Former Maharashtra CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar

FORMER CHIEF minister and senior Congress leader Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar (91) tested positive for the novel coronavirus late on Wednesday. Patil was already undergoing treatment at a hospital in his home territory of Latur when he tested positive for the virus, and was then moved to a private hospital in Pune.

Sources close to the family said the former chief minister complained of uneasiness early on Wednesday when he was admitted to a private hospital in Latur city. After his swab test was pronounced as positive, he was moved to Pune for further treatment.

Patil Nilangekar is the second senior politician from Latur to test positive for the virus. Earlier, Ausa MLA Abhimanyu Pawar of the BJP had tested positive and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Latur.

Patil Nilangekar was the CM for a brief stint in 1985-86. A powerful cooperative leader from Latur, his grandson Sambhaji Patil is a BJP MLA and was the labour minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.