Union Minister Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav Visits Manipur, Discusses Healthcare and Politics

: Union Minister of State for Health, Family Welfare and AYUSH (Independent Charge) Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav said the Centre would extend support to welfare initiatives undertaken in Manipur, including any proposal to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) . Jadhav made the remarks during a six-hour visit to Imphal on September 20. In a post on X, the union minister said he held discussions with Manipur Chief Minister on the proposed construction of an AYUSH Wellness Centre and stressed the need to promote medicinal plant cultivation on vacant land across the state. He also met Manipur Minister for Home and Youth Affairs & Sports (YAS) Govindas Konthoujam to review healthcare infrastructure and the implementation of public welfare schemes. During his visit, Jadhav inspected the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) , including the newly constructed OPD complex, emergency blocks and surgical wards, where he interacted with patients. He was also briefed on the institute’s performance and infrastructure requirements by RIMS Director Prof. G. Sunil Kumar Sharma. Jadhav assured the institute of continued central assistance and reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi in the state. Separately, Jadhav said the Shiv Sena is seeking a pre-poll alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly elections. Speaking to the media in Imphal, Jadhav, who is also a Shiv Sena leader, referred to the party’s position as a coalition partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre. He said the Shiv Sena would like to replicate the alliance arrangement in Manipur ahead of the Assembly polls. However, Jadhav said the party would contest the state elections independently if a seat-sharing or alliance agreement with the BJP could not be reached.