"We have temporarily put him off the ventilator and are monitoring his condition. He will be under observation now. This has been attempted after we noticed that he is breathing on his own since the past two days," a senior AIIMS doctor treating the former Prime Minister said on the condition of anonymity.

"His condition is stable, his chest infection is better. He is showing good progress. He has undergone a tracheotomy for better airway management yesterday. This was done to avoid infection and also to clear his chest congestion," Dr Sampath Kumar, Chief of Cardio Thoracic Vascular Sciences Department at the hospital, said.

The veteran BJP leader was admitted to AIIMS on February 3 following complaints of chest infection. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia and put on ventilatory support.