Newly elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is unwell and skipped office on Monday, on a day he planned to make major announcements such as providing 700 litres of free water to each household.
Doctors attending on him said Kejriwal was suffering from high fever and diarrhoea and was responding to treatment.
"Kejriwal is responding to treatment. His fever has come down and diarrhoea is under control. We will wait till evening and then take a decision on administering intravenous fluids," his physician Dr Bipin Mittal said.
Officials said Kejriwal will chair a meeting of Delhi Jal Board at his residence in Ghaziabad to discuss ways to provide free 700 litres of water per Delhi household as promised by him. Earlier, the meeting was scheduled at the Delhi secretariat.
In its manifesto, the Aam Aadmi Party had promised to provide 700 litres of free water daily to each household in the city.
In a series of tweets, 45-year-old Kejriwal said, "Running 102 fever since yesterday. Severe loose motions. Sad that I won't be able to attend office today.
"It was so important to attend office today. We had planned the water announcement. God, bahut galat time par bimaar kiya. (God, you have made me ill at the wrong time)", he tweeted.
Dr Mittal said Kejriwal has been administered antibiotics and advised complete rest. "He will rest for the day. As the day progresses we will see. He was very keen on going to the secretariat because has very important announcements to make. I strictly advised him against going out," Mittal said.
The Delhi chief minister has been suffering from cough and cold since last month. On Sunday, he had cancelled his meeting with people who had come to visit him, due to fever. He later made a brief appearance and sought some time to put in place a system to redress their grievances.
Sources said the chief minister is likely to order inquiry into finances of the three private power distribution companies soon.
The government is also likely to make announcements in cutting electricity tariff. The AAP had promised to slash the tariff by 50 per cent.
A number of officials including Excise Commissioner A K Singh met Kejriwal. Scores of employees from various government departments like CATS Ambulance Service, Home Guards and contractual teachers lined up at Kejriwal's residence seeking resolution of their grievances.
After a meeting with the chief minister, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said Kejriwal is under observation as his health condition is not good and he has lost weight. "But he is in touch with officials of several departments including Delhi Jal Board," he said.
Questioned about his remarks challenging BJP leader Narendra Modi to contest Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, he said that "mere verbal rhetorics" were not enough and one has to face the challenge head on.
Amethi is currently being represented by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and the AAP has already indicated that Vishwas may be fielded from the seat in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
"The AAP will not give tickets to people from a particular family but the common man will fight elections on its ticket," he said.
Vishwas said that senior BJP leaders like Nitin Gadkari should contest elections from Rae Bareli, the constituency of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
The Aam Aadmi Party, in a tweet, asked people to stop gathering outside Kejriwal's home, saying he needed rest.
"Dear Delhi citizens and well wishers. Please don’t reach Kejriwal 's home and make the place crowded. Arvind needs rest," it said.
Meanwhile, all the six ministers attended office at the Delhi secretariat and held meetings with officials of their departments.
Manish Sisodia, Minister for Education, Urban Development and Public Works Department, reached the secretariat at 9:30 am and held a series of meetings with officials. He said the government would soon announce steps to provide relief to residents of unauthorised colonies. Sisodia also promised to streamline the nursery admission process.
"We will not allow private schools to charge hefty fees for admission in nursery class. We will streamline the process," he said.
Meanwhile, some journalists were miffed at not being allowed to go to the chief minister's office on the third floor in the Delhi secretariat.
