Lucknow

Ajay Rai, chief of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Indian National Congress, was admitted to a hospital in Lucknow after he reportedly fainted due to low sodium levels, party leaders said on Saturday.

According to party spokesperson Anshu Awasthi, Rai was taken to Medanta Hospital around 6 pm on Friday after he lost consciousness at his residence in Lucknow. Awasthi said Rai had remained occupied with party engagements throughout the day and had also visited the airport before his health deteriorated.

Congress leader Avinash Pande said Rai’s condition is now stable.

Hospital Director Dr Rakesh Kapoor said Rai collapsed at home on Friday evening and was brought to the emergency ward for immediate treatment. Medical examinations found that he was suffering from sodium deficiency along with elevated blood pressure.

Doctors administered prompt medical care, and his condition has shown significant improvement, Kapoor said, adding that Rai is conscious, interacting with people, and under continuous observation by a team of specialists.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over Rai’s health and wished him a speedy recovery in a message posted on social media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his wishes for Rai’s quick recovery in a social media post late Friday night.

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Rai, who hails from Varanasi, was appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress chief in 2023. He had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Varanasi against Modi.