Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde announced on Thursday that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a condition that has impacted his ability to speak and prevented him from attending cabinet meetings.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader also revealed that he had undergone surgery on both his eyes two weeks ago.

In a post on X, Munde shared, “I had surgery on both my eyes fifteen days ago under the guidance of Padma Shri Dr. T.P. Lahane. For about ten days, he advised me to protect my eyes from strong light, dust, and sunlight.”

He further added, “Meanwhile, I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. I am currently undergoing treatment under the guidance of renowned Dr. Arun Shah at Reliance Hospital. Due to this condition, I am unable to speak properly for more than two minutes at a stretch. As a result, I have missed one or two cabinet meetings and party Janata Darbar programs.”

Munde stated that he had informed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar about his health condition. He assured that he would resume public appearances once he recovers.

What is Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that causes sudden weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, typically worsening within 48 hours. Though usually temporary, recovery can take anywhere from two weeks to six months.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown, but it has been linked to conditions such as diabetes, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), high blood pressure, and Lyme disease.

Common symptoms include difficulty closing the eye on the affected side and involuntary muscle movements affecting facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting, and blinking.