Pranab says prime minister will attend last Lok Sabha session, PMO denies it

The government and the prime minister's office (PMO) are speaking in different voices on the possibility of Manmohan Singh registering at least a token presence in parliament for the last sitting of the 14th Lok Sabha (LS) on February 26. 

Pranab Mukherjee, the man in charge in the PM's absence, expressed the hope in the Lok Sabha that Manmohan will attend the House, albeit for a short while, on the last day. But PMO sources denied any such possibility. "It looks unlikely," a senior functionary said.

The PM's workload is being strictly monitored and access to him is limited. External affairs minister Mukherjee, who is also holding the finance portfolio in the PM's absence, met him twice in connection with the budget, so did national security adviser MK Narayanan, PMO minister Prithiviraj Chauhan and Manmohan's principal secretary TK Nair.  

The PM underwent a cardiac bypass surgery at AIIMS on January 24 and was discharged on February 1. Since then, he has been convalescing at his Race Course Road residence under strict medical supervision. His doctors said Manmohan has been making steady progress and has begun moderate exercise. He is also looking at important files, they said.

It will be curtains for the 14th Lok Sabha on Thursday and government as well as Congress circles are hoping the PM will be able to attend the closing session. Lending credence to the speculation was the activity around PMO. Senior SPG officers were seen moving in and out even as the office was being dusted.

Javed M Ansari/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication