Manmohan Singh attends office after his heart bypass surgery

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had his first official engagement on Wednesday in more than a month after his heart bypass surgery. He met the visiting Benin President Boni Yayi at his 7 Race Course Road residence in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had his first official engagement on Wednesday in more than a month after his heart bypass surgery. He met the visiting Benin President Boni Yayi at his 7 Race Course Road residence in New Delhi.

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Manmohan Singh's meeting with the African head of state lasted for over 30 minutes where a wide range of bilateral and global issues were discussed. The talks will be followed by the signing of some economy-related agreements, officials said.

"He (Singh) was at ease and looked cheerful when he met Benin's president," said a prime ministerial aide.

Benin is an ethnically diverse West African country that is opening up its economy to attract more foreign investment.

The prime minister is expected to return to his routine official work in a week or so but questions persist on whether he will be able to plunge headlong into an electoral campaign in the heat of summer. Lok Sabha polls are scheduled over five phases from April 16 to May 13.

Manmohan Singh was hospitalised Jan 24 following chest pain. He returned home Feb 1 after a coronary bypass surgery and has been convalescing since then.