India: Congress Party approves Manmohan Singh for Prime Minister

[Naveed Yaseen]

NEW DELHI (May 20 2009): India's Congress Party on Tuesday elected Manmohan Singh to lead its parliamentary party, paving the way for him to return as prime minister following a resounding election victory. Elected members met to nominate Singh and parliamentary party chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, a formality required to form a new government.

Singh, who has vowed to revive economic growth in India, is likely to be sworn in by President Pratibha Patil for his second term on Friday. Allied parties held talks with Gandhi over positions in the new administration after the Congress-led alliance coasted to victory in the elections results announced on Saturday. The alliance won 262 of 543 seats, with Congress Party's own tally at 206 - its best performance since 1991.

The main opposition grouping led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged only 159 seats. Addressing party members, Singh warned that voters expected a more "responsive" and "efficient" government during the second term.

He made a case for major economic reforms, which analysts say will be easier now that the party has enough seats to govern without communist support. "The period ahead could be decisive. We must grasp the nettle firmly and forge ahead," Singh said. "This requires creating a social and political environment in which new investment can be made."

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