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Indian PM 'stable' after heart op Indian PM 'stable' after heart op
(about 9 hours later)
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in a stable condition after undergoing a heart bypass operation in Delhi, Indian media report. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "conscious and stable" after undergoing successful heart bypass surgery in Delhi, his team of doctors said.
The 76-year-old was expected to be in intensive care for at least 48 hours. During the 11-hour operation, surgeons performed five bypasses on the 76-year-old leader.
The surgery was carried out after two blockages were found in his arteries. Mr Singh previously had bypass surgery in 1990 and an angioplasty in 2004. He is expected to remain in hospital for seven to eight days and should be "fully functional" in six weeks.
The ruling Congress Party says he will still lead the party in the forthcoming general election which is due by May.The ruling Congress Party says he will still lead the party in the forthcoming general election which is due by May.
"The entire country is rejoicing because our prime minister has come out successfully from the operation," Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily was quoted by AFP as saying."The entire country is rejoicing because our prime minister has come out successfully from the operation," Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily was quoted by AFP as saying.
Mr Singh underwent tests earlier this week after he complained of chest pains. Mr Singh, who previously had bypass surgery in 1990 and an angioplasty in 2004, had complained of chest pains earlier in the week.
The bypass was performed by doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India's top state-run hospital, and the Asian Heart Institute. He was admitted to hospital on Friday. The operation began at 0845 local time (0315 GMT) on Saturday and ended at 1930 (1400 GMT), his personal physician said.
Before the operation, doctors said there was "very little risk" to Mr Singh and that the prime minister should be fit to resume normal duties in three to four weeks. The operation was performed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India's top state-run hospital, by an 11-member team of doctors.
Succession speculationSuccession speculation
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? According to the BBC's Jill McGivering, this is not a good time for the prime minister to be removed from the political fray, given tense relations with Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. Mr Singh's physician Dr KS Reddy (right) says he is "very, very stable"
Congress has so far dismissed concerns that Mr Singh's health would interfere with its current election campaign.Congress has so far dismissed concerns that Mr Singh's health would interfere with its current election campaign.
But there has been widespread speculation that party chief Sonia Gandhi has been lining up her son, Rahul Gandhi, heir to India's powerful Gandhi dynasty, as the country's next prime minister.But there has been widespread speculation that party chief Sonia Gandhi has been lining up her son, Rahul Gandhi, heir to India's powerful Gandhi dynasty, as the country's next prime minister.
Mr Singh has largely been in good health since he was sworn in as prime minister in May 2004, but he recently underwent prostate surgery and has also had cataract treatment.Mr Singh has largely been in good health since he was sworn in as prime minister in May 2004, but he recently underwent prostate surgery and has also had cataract treatment.
Mr Singh, who studied economics at Cambridge and Oxford, became India's finance minister in 1991 when the country was plunging towards bankruptcy, and is widely regarded as the architect of the country's economic reform programme.Mr Singh, who studied economics at Cambridge and Oxford, became India's finance minister in 1991 when the country was plunging towards bankruptcy, and is widely regarded as the architect of the country's economic reform programme.
The quietly spoken economist-politician is also seen as the cleanest politician in India, a subject dear to voters' hearts.The quietly spoken economist-politician is also seen as the cleanest politician in India, a subject dear to voters' hearts.
Government officials said that Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will take charge of cabinet meetings during the prime minister's absence.Government officials said that Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will take charge of cabinet meetings during the prime minister's absence.