Finance Minister Arun Jaitley suffering from kidney-related ailment, likely to undergo transplant

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is suffering from a kidney ailment and may have to undergo a surgery, sources close to the minister said.

Jaitley, 65, was brought to AIIMS where he underwent diagnostic tests.

Doctors indicated that it was a kidney-related ailment.

A source at AIIMS said that the minister is likely to undergo kidney transplant and it is learnt that formalities for a donor kidney have been completed.

Depending on doctors' advice, he may be admitted to the Cardio-Neuro Tower at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

I am being treated for kidney related problems & certain infections that I have contracted. I am therefore currently working from controlled environment at home. The future course of my treatment would be determined by the doctors treating me.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) April 5, 2018

The centre is housed in a separate building and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

He 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.

The minister, however, has not yet been hospitalised but has been advised to avoid going out in public for fear of catching infection.

He has not been attending office since Monday and even skipped taking oath after being re-elected as Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh.

Fifty-three out of 58 newly-elected or re-elected members took oath of office during the last two days.

Jaitley was one of the five members who have not taken oath.

Sources said Jaitley's present condition may be a fallout of the bariatric surgery he had undergone soon after the BJP government came to power at the Centre in 2014.

He underwent the 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 then had to be shifted to AIIMS because of complications.

Though he has not been attending office since Monday, he is clearing files from his residence, they said.

The minister, who suffers from chronic diabetes, had heart surgery several years ago.

He is a key member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet and presented his fifth and the present NDA government's final full budget on February 1.

The Budget was last month approved by the Lok Sabha without a discussion and it is not listed to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha before the current session of Parliament ends tomorrow, thereby not requiring his presence for a reply.