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Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's surgery has been scheduled for Thursday morning, between 08:30 and 09:00 hours IST.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mangaldas Lodha said that the operation is expected to be an encore of the one performed on the prime minister in October last year. The only difference being that this time it will be on the right knee.
Vajpayee will have his knee operated on by Dr Chittaranjan S Ranawat, who had operated on his left knee.
For most agencies involved, from security officials to the hospital authorities and even the traffic police, the surgery will also be an encore. "The last time, we were worried about everything. This time, we are confident as the entire procedure has been gone through once before," Lodha told rediff.com.
Vajpayee arrived at Breach Candy hospital in Bombay on Wednesday at 13:18 hours IST. Among others, he was welcomed by Maharashtra Governor Dr P C Alexander, State Health Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar and BJP leader Vijay Tawde.
Before being admitted to hospital, Vajpayee planted a banyan tree sapling, as part of efforts to make Bombay a greener city, and he presented Tawde with a small tulsi plant.
He will be on a light diet on Wednesday night and is expected to be examined by Dr Ranawat.
Vajpayee's foster daughter, Namita Bhattacharya, her husband, Ranjan and grand-daughter, Neha are accompanying him.
Top officials from the Prime Minister's Office and national security adviser Brajesh Mishra are also in the city.
Vajpayee will be in the city for about 10 days.
Meanwhile, 'get well' wishes for the prime minister have started pouring in. An e-mail address, getwellatalji@comnetinfotech.com, has been set up and e-mails have started coming in.
The first e-mail on Wednesday morning was sent by Tawde.
Last year, nearly 12,000 e-mails had poured in, wishing the prime minister good health.
But the hype in political circles around the prime minister's surgery is lesser now.
While politicians like Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and cine star turned politician Vinod Khanna had visited Breach Candy hospital, to meet the PM after his surgery, this time, Vajpayee has requested political personalities to meet him only after his return to New Delhi.
Union Home Minister L K Advani is expected to visit the PM after his surgery.
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