Saathi to be acting CM

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 16.

The Delhi Finance Minister and seniormost Minister in the Sheila Dikshit Government, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, will be the acting Chief Minister in the absence of Ms. Sheila Dikshit, who underwent a by-pass heart surgery at Escorts Hospital and Research Institute here today.

A formal notification regarding the temporary arrangement has been issued. Immediately, Mr. Saathi summoned a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet for tomorrow. In fact, the unscheduled surgery took administrative and political circles by surprise. So sudden was the decision that even her Cabinet colleagues came to know about the operation only from a senior bureaucrat in the Chief Minister's office.

A majority of MLAs had no inclination of the surgery till late afternoon, and were informed by mediapersons when they raised queries about her condition. The Health Minister, Dr.A.K. Walia, and the Transport Minister, Mr. Parvez Hashmi, along with senior leaders rushed to the hospital. The unscheduled surgery created a piquant situation as the Chief Minister, had not designated anybody to hold the fort in her absence. It was only after it was decided that she would be operated today that a decision was taken to designate Mr. Saathi as the acting Chief Minister.

Although, it was in the knowledge of Ministers and MLAs that Ms. Dikshit had been undergoing check-ups, there was no inclination of a surgery. It is understood, that it was Mr. Saathi who is believed to have suggested to Ms. Dikshit not to take any chances and undergo rigorous tests. He had even gone to the extent of suggesting that if necessary she should consult a cardiologist. Mr. Saathi himself had undergone a by-pass surgery last year.

The Cabinet will meet tomorrow. And another Ministerial colleague, Dr. Yoganand Shastri, has gone abroad on an official visit. However, no major decisions are expected to be taken in the absence of Ms. Dikshit, who is expected to take a month before she starts functioning effectively.

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