NEW DELHI, Jan 23: India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will stand in for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after he undergoes a heart surgery on Saturday, Press Trust of India said.

It said Dr Singh was admitted on Friday to Delhi’s premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he would undergo a coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

In the absence of Dr Singh, Mr Mukherjee “will look after the functioning of the government”. He will also represent the prime minister during the Republic Day parade on Monday.

Dr Singh had undergone angiography on Wednesday together with other tests which showed that he had multiple blockages in the heart and needed surgery.

Earlier, Dr Singh had undergone a bypass surgery in 1990 and an angioplasty for stent implantation in 2003.

According to experts, the bypass surgery would not pose any danger to the prime minister. However, he would have to take a few weeks’ rest before taking up his duties.

The prime minister would also have to take good care of his health for especially keeping blood pressure under control and do moderate exercises, PTI said.