MUMBAI\CHENNAI: Union science and technology minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was admitted to hospital in Chennai on Monday in a critical condition. "Deshmukh is on life support. His condition is critical as he is suffering from a serious liver ailment and multiple organ failure," said a doctor attending to him.

A Mumbai doctor said Vilasrao's liver ailment was detected during a routine medical check-up well over a year ago.

Since then his family has been examining all options, including a liver transplant either abroad or in Chennai or New Delhi. "Our information is that Deshmukh had gone abroad for check-up on two to three occasions and there had been a marked improvement in his condition," the doctor said.

A week ago, Deshmukh himself felt his condition was deteriorating, and he was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital in the city. It was found that he was suffering from cirrhosis of liver and also that both his kidneys were completely non-functional. "At Breach Candy, he was on dialysis for three days. There was no improvement in his condition and ultimately he was put on life support system," the Mumbai doctor said.

On Monday, when it was observed that his condition was bad, Deshmukh was shifted to Chennai in an air-ambulance. "We are planning a liver transplant after stabilizing his vital parameters," the doctor attending to him at Chennia's Global Hospital said. The 67-year-old former Maharashtra chief minister was flown to Chennai for treatment under the care of noted liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela. "He is now on a ventilator. His kidneys are failing. We are evaluating him to see if he is fit enough for a transplant," said a doctor requesting anonymity.

Sources said his actor-son Riteish Deshmukh has expressed willingness to donate a part of his liver to his ailing father. For this, doctors will have to certify that the tissues match. According to transplant rules, the surgery will have to be cleared by an authorization committee headed by the Tamil Nadu director of medical education. "We have not ruled out a cadaver transplant either. We will put him on the wait-list. But that is only after he stabilises," said another doctor.

The Mumbai-based doctor said a possibility of liver transplant in Mumbai hospitals too was considered, but the members of the Deshmukh family declined the option. "In Mumbai, two hospitals are authorized to perform liver transplant operations, but it's a question of faith. Members of the Deshmukh family felt that Chennai will be a better option," he said.