Pune (PTI): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, admitted to a hospital here with dehydration, was discharged on Wednesday morning, with doctors saying he is doing fine.

The 85-year-old Rajya Sabha member was admitted to the Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on Sunday following complaints of dehydration.

"He is doing well. He has been given discharge, and he has already left for Mumbai. He has been advised to take rest for the next couple of days before resuming his normal routine," said Dr Purvez Grant, the chief cardiologist, chairman and managing trustee of the private hospital.

Earlier, the former Union minister was admitted to the same hospital on February 9 following a chest infection and was discharged on February 14.

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Kolkata (PTI): The Election Commission on Friday ordered the immediate suspension of a joint block development officer (BDO) in poll-bound West Bengal and directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against her.

The poll body, however, did not mention the grounds for the action.

In a letter to the chief secretary of West Bengal, the poll panel said the action against Jyotsna Khatun, the joint BDO of Purba Bardhaman district's Khandaghosh, is based on a recommendation from the chief electoral officer of the state.

"The commission has agreed to the proposal and directs that Jyotsna Khatun be suspended and disciplinary action be initiated against her immediately," the EC stated in its letter to the West Bengal chief secretary.

Khatun had been notified as the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for the 259-Khandaghosh Assembly Constituency.

The poll panel has asked authorities to implement the order "with immediate effect" and submit a compliance report by 11 am of Saturday.

The letter also instructed the authorities to urgently propose a replacement for the vacant post.