Arun Jaitley takes charge as FM after a three-month break due to surgery

A little more than three months after Arun Jaitley underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery, he took back charge of Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministry at 11 am on Thursday. Piyush Goyal, who was the caretaker Finance Minister in Jaitley’s absence, will continue as Railways and Coal Minister.

“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign the portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Arun Jaitley,” an official statement said.

Jaitley underwent surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on May 14. He had been keeping unwell since early April due to kidney-related problems and chest infection. The initial assessment by the doctors post-surgery was that he would take at least eight weeks to recover.

The Finance Minister was discharged on June 4 and underwent post-operative recovery at his official residence under the most strict of conditions imposed by the doctors. He wasn’t meeting anyone but close family members and doctors.