Kerala MP and former Union Minister E Ahamed passes away after collapsing in Parliament

Indian Union Muslim League Member of Parliament E Ahamed has passed away. News of his death emerged early today from the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where Ahamed was admitted after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday. Ahamed collapsed in the Parliament's Central Hall while President Pranab Mukherjee was addressing it. The 78-year-old Ahamed had served as the Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA government and had been a Lok Sabha member from Malappuram in Kerala since 1991. HIGH DRAMA BEFORE DEATH News of his death was preceded by high drama, with Ahamed's family earlier alleging that hospital authorities were not letting them see him and were dithering on providing a concrete update on Ahamed's health. Senior Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, visited the RML Hospital late Tuesday night amid strong buzz that the announcement regarding Ahamed's passing away was being delayed as the MP's death may necessitate the postponement of today's Parliamentary session, where the government is scheduled to present the Budget. The confirmation of the former Union Minister's death now raises questions over whether the Budget will be presented today. The matter will be addressed by the presiding officers of both the houses who will take a call in consultation with the government and the leaders of opposition in each house.