Arun Jaitley Under Observation, To Undergo Surgery On Sunday

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today underwent a series of medical tests at the ALl India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi ahead of his kidney transplant surgery.

Jaitley, 65, who was admitted to AIIMS last evening, has been kept under observation. Sources said that keeping a kidney transplant patient under one-day observation is a routine medical procedure and his surgery is likely to be done tomorrow.

Jaitley is suffering from a kidney ailment and has not been attending office since Monday. He has not even taken oath of office after being re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the minister, who was kept in a ‘controlled environment' at home, was shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) last evening.

The minister, who cancelled his scheduled visit to London for the 10th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue next week, had confirmed his illness in a tweet yesterday. “I am being treated for kidney related problems & certain infections that I have contracted,” he had tweeted.

Jaitley is likely to be operated by nephrologist Dr Sandeep Guleria from Apollo hospital, also brother of AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, who is a family friend of Jaitley. He had in September 2014 undergone a bariatric surgery to treat weight gain that he suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition. That surgery was first performed at Max Hospital, but he had to be later shifted to AIIMS because of complications. He also had a heart surgery several years ago.