PM to undergo surgery Saturday morning

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will undergo a coronary bypass surgery early Saturday for the removal of blockages in his heart vessels, a major operation that will him keep away from official work for about a month, during which Pranab Mukherjee will be in charge.
The 76-year-old leader, who has a history of heart ailments which have included a bypass surgery 18 years ago and an angioplasty 6 years ago, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here around noon.
A team of 11 doctors from AIIMS and Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute (AHI) led by Dr P K Panda, a highly reputed cardiac surgeon, will perform the surgery on Singh who has been complaining of fatigue and chest pain in recent days. He was then subjected to tests which indicated blockages.
Singh will, therefore, miss the Republic Day parade, the first Prime Minister to be absent from it and other connected functions. He is unlikely to be fit to present the vote on account in Parliament which meets from February 12.
External Affairs Minister Mukherjee, being the senior-most minister, will stand in for the prime minister at the Republic Day functions and will also chair meetings of the Cabinet.Mukherjee (73) was also given the additional charge of Finance portfolio, which was also held by Singh after P Chidambaram moved to Home three months ago.