Update: PM's surgery tomorrow, Pranab to take charge

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gets admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been given the charge of Finance Ministry. The decision was taken this morning after Mukherjee held meetings with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh will undergo a bypass surgery at AIIMS tomorrow, to remove blockages in his heart.

Moreover, Mukherjee will also preside over Cabinet meetings during the absence of the Prime Minister. Mukherjee will also look after coal, environment and forests as well as information and broadcasting portfolios, which were being handled by Singh.

The government sources indicate that this additional responsibilities will be looked after by Mukherjee in the interim period only.

According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, Mukherjee is expected to hold a meeting with T K A Nair, principal secretary to the Prime Minister to discuss the functioning of the ministries. Singh had taken charge of the Finance Ministry after P Chidambaram was appointed as the Home Minister recently.

Singh was admitted at AIIMS on Friday afternoon after his panel of doctors decided not to delay the operation. Earlier, Singh was keen to attend the Republic Day programme on 26 January and then undergo the bypass surgery.