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India PM to undergo heart surgery India PM to undergo heart surgery
(about 2 hours later)
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undergo heart bypass surgery over the weekend, officials say, after blockages were found in his arteries.Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undergo heart bypass surgery over the weekend, officials say, after blockages were found in his arteries.
The 76-year-old leader will enter hospital in Delhi on Friday for the surgery on Saturday, a spokesman said.The 76-year-old leader will enter hospital in Delhi on Friday for the surgery on Saturday, a spokesman said.
Mr Singh previously had bypass surgery in the UK in 1990.Mr Singh previously had bypass surgery in the UK in 1990.
The new surgery will raise questions about Mr Singh's participation in the upcoming general elections, which must be held by May.The new surgery will raise questions about Mr Singh's participation in the upcoming general elections, which must be held by May.
Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to take charge of prime ministerial meetings while Mr Singh recovers from the operation, reports say.Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to take charge of prime ministerial meetings while Mr Singh recovers from the operation, reports say.
Mr Singh underwent tests earlier this week after he complained of chest pains.Mr Singh underwent tests earlier this week after he complained of chest pains.
He will undergo "coronary artery bypass graft surgery" performed by a team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India's top state-run hospital, and the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, a government official said.He will undergo "coronary artery bypass graft surgery" performed by a team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India's top state-run hospital, and the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, a government official said.
Gandhi dynastyGandhi dynasty
Doctors say there is "very little risk" associated with Mr Singh's surgery and that the prime minister should be fit to resume normal duties in "three to four weeks". Doctors say that there is "very little risk" associated with Mr Singh's surgery and that the prime minister should be fit to resume normal duties in "three to four weeks".
But the BBC's Jill McGivering says this is not a good time for the prime minister to be removed from the political fray given the tense relations with Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.But the BBC's Jill McGivering says this is not a good time for the prime minister to be removed from the political fray given the tense relations with Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
Will Rahul Gandhi emerge as a successor to Mr Singh?Will Rahul Gandhi emerge as a successor to Mr Singh?
She adds that health concerns will also certainly not help when it comes to defending in the election campaign economic policies that have been less sweeping and less successful than hoped.She adds that health concerns will also certainly not help when it comes to defending in the election campaign economic policies that have been less sweeping and less successful than hoped.
Though Congress party leaders have been saying that Mr Singh will be heading the party into the next elections, there have been reports that Rahul Gandhi, heir to India's powerful Gandhi family, is emerging as a successor.Though Congress party leaders have been saying that Mr Singh will be heading the party into the next elections, there have been reports that Rahul Gandhi, heir to India's powerful Gandhi family, is emerging as a successor.
It is not clear whether Mr Singh will be able to campaign intensively after his surgery, but the economist-politician has never been used by the party to woo voters in a big way.It is not clear whether Mr Singh will be able to campaign intensively after his surgery, but the economist-politician has never been used by the party to woo voters in a big way.
The Gandhi family and regional politicians will continue to be more important, analysts say.The Gandhi family and regional politicians will continue to be more important, analysts say.
Apart from Mr Singh's heart bypass in 1990 he has also undergone wrist surgery, prostate gland surgery and a cataract removal procedure, officials said.Apart from Mr Singh's heart bypass in 1990 he has also undergone wrist surgery, prostate gland surgery and a cataract removal procedure, officials said.
Mr Singh - the first prime minister from the Sikh community - has been heading the government since 2004.Mr Singh - the first prime minister from the Sikh community - has been heading the government since 2004.
He is widely regarded as the architect of the country's economic reform programme.He is widely regarded as the architect of the country's economic reform programme.
An academic-turned-civil servant who studied economics at Cambridge and Oxford, Mr Singh became India's finance minister in 1991 when the country was plunging into bankruptcy.An academic-turned-civil servant who studied economics at Cambridge and Oxford, Mr Singh became India's finance minister in 1991 when the country was plunging into bankruptcy.
He is widely regarded as the cleanest politician in India, a subject dear to voters' hearts.He is widely regarded as the cleanest politician in India, a subject dear to voters' hearts.