Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who tested positive for coronavirus a few weeks ago, has now been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon for further treatment, his family said on Sunday. Patel, 71, had announced on Twitter on October 1 that he had contracted coronavirus.

In a statement he posted on Twitter on Sunday, Ahmed Patel's son Faisal said, "On behalf of his family, we would like to share that Shri Ahmed Patel had tested positive for Covid19 a few weeks ago. He has now been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon for further treatment."

"His condition is stable and he continues to be under medical observation...We request you to pray for his speedy recovery," he said. Several Congress leaders wished a speedy recovery to Patel.

"Deeply concerned and praying for the good health of my friend and comrade Ahmed Patel. Please join us in praying for his early recovery," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma tweeted.

Shashi Tharoor tweeted: "An extraordinary figure in Indian politics, @ahmedpatel, battles for his health. I have long been an admirer of his exceptional qualities & wish him a speedy & complete recovery. He has pulled off many great victories; praying that this will be one more! @mfaisalpatel."

Many Congress leaders, including Abhishek Singhvi and Tarun Gogoi, had also tested positive for coronavirus earlier. Besides Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, several Union ministers had also been infected with the novel coronavirus earlier.