New Delhi, Sept 16: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday visited ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is currently admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.

Parrikar was flown from Goa to Delhi on Saturday for treatment. AIIMS is yet to issue an official statement relating to Parrikar's health. His hospitalisation comes following a reported conversation with BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, when he expressed the two leaders of his "inability" to continue as the CM due to falling health.

A senior Goa BJP leader, while speaking to news agency PTI, said Parrikar has conveyed to Amit Shah to look for alternatives as he would not be able to continue as the Chief Minister. "He was asked by Shah to discharge his duties till the party finds his replacement," the leader said, adding that as an immediate measure, Parrikar could be relieved of some key portfolios.

Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar has, however, denied reports which claimed that Parrikar could be relieved of his charge. "There will be no change in the leadership. Manohar Parrikar is the CM of Goa, he will continue to be the CM," he told news agency ANI today.

Parrikar has been facing health issues since early this year. After being treated for nearly a month at Mumbai's Lilavati, he was flown to the United States of America in March this year, where he was being treated for pancreatic ailments at a New York-based medical facility.

After his return from the US in June, Parrikar began discharging his duties on full-time basis. His health, however, deteriorated again in the past few days, forcing him to visit the New York-based medical facility again for treatment. After his return last week, Parrikar was admitted at a hospital in North Goa's Candolim.

Meanwhile, trouble brews for the BJP in the state, as key ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has demanded the party to handover the charge to seniormost Cabinet minister - MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar - till Parrikar recovers completely.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 16, 2018 04:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).