Senior Congress leader G Venkataswamy was admitted to a super-specialty hospital in Hyderabad on Friday, following complaints of high blood pressure and problems in breathing.
"He is critical and on ventilator and will be under observation for the next 48 hours. However, his condition is stable," hospital sources said.
State Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu told reporters that Venkataswamy was admitted to the hospital after he complained of high blood pressure and breathing problems.
In a political career spanning about five decades, Venkataswamy (82), a dalit leader, was elected to the legislative assembly, legislative council and Parliament seven times and held various positions including the Union Minister, state Congress president and deputy leader of party in the Parliament among others.
He was in news in February this year for demanding that Sonia Gandhi should step down as party president to make way for an Indian. In his attack on the Congress leadership, he had alleged that corruption has grown and that the nation and party were suffering from various ills. He, however, withdrew his comments a day later.