Manmohan Singh sworn in as PM for 2nd term

Updated at: 2020 PST, Friday, May 22, 2009

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was sworn in for a second term Friday, amid a row between his Congress party and a key ally over cabinet posts following their resounding election triumph.

The 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist and 19 members of his cabinet took their oath of office from Indian president Pratibha Patil at the presidential palace in New Delhi. The portfolios of those sworn in have yet to be allocated.

A dispute over cabinet positions clouded the day, with a key regional ally from southern India, the DMK party, threatening to quit the alliance.

Singh is the first prime minister since India's first post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to return to office after completing a full five-year term.

Congress had campaigned hard on a poverty-alleviation platform for India's rural millions, and voters also responded to the image of Singh as a steady, pragmatic leader capable of steering the country through an economic downturn.

His coalition won 262 seats in the 543-member national parliament, just 10 short of the 272 needed for a working majority.

The alliance quickly garnered pledges of support from independents and others to take its voting strength to 322.

But Singh and Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi have had to bargain hard with their electoral partners over the distribution of cabinet positions.

The sticking point in talks with the DMK, the biggest ally, has been over its demand for nine cabinet positions with the Congress willing to concede only six.

"We both have differing perceptions on this," a Congress official told AFP after Singh met senior party colleagues at his residence to try and finalise his cabinet.

"The prime minister thinks the people have spoken in favour of good governance and he intends to focus on performance and accountability while choosing his ministers. That is his prerogative," another Congress source said.

Manmohan to be sworn-in as Indian PM today

Updated at: 0704 PST, Friday, May 22, 2009

NEW DELHI: Dr. Manmohan Singh will be sworn-in as India's Prime Minister second consecutive term on Friday, May 22, in New Delhi.

Dr. Singh is armed with the support of 322 MPs, including those of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The oath-taking ceremony of the new UPA government will be held at the Central Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace). The President will administer Oaths of Office and Secrecy.

The council of ministers is likely to be dominated by the Congress who has won 200 seats alone, is expected to keep the key cabinet portfolios, after the party's election sweep. The outgoing council of ministers had 78 members comprising 30 cabinet ministers, eight ministers of state with independent charge and 40 ministers of state or junior ministers.

Indian President having satisfied herself, on the basis of various letters of support received, that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) alliance, which is also the largest pre-election alliance, is in a position to command majority support of the newly constituted 15th Lok Sabha and to form a stable Government, appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister and requested him to indicate the members of the new Council of Ministers.

Earlier, Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday evening to stake claim to form government.

Congress celebrates Indian election victory

Updated at: 1609 PST, Saturday, May 16, 2009

NEW DELHI: Supporters of India's Congress party set off firecrackers and danced in the street on Saturday as they celebrated election results that swept them back into power with unexpected ease.

Thousands of young and old supporters chanted "Jai Ho" (Victory), echoing the song from the hit film Slumdog Millionaire that was taken up by Congress as its campaign slogan.

The party was expected to pick up more than 190 seats in its own right -- Congress' best showing since 1991 -- and, along with its allies, was well ahead of the Hindu-nationalist opposition-led group.

"With our alliance partners, we will have a safe majority," Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said.

Activists were unanimous that it was the party's Italian-born president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, 38, who were responsible for the success.

21 killed in violence on first day of polling in India

Updated at: 2230 PST, Thursday, April 16, 2009.

NEW DELHI: The first day of polling in India's general election has been disrupted by Maoist-led violence which left at least 17 people dead.
The first of five phases of parliamentary elections was held in 17 states across the country and voting ended early in those constituencies affected by rebel violence.
The rebels struck in the state of Jharkand, using landmines which killed at least seven people including five security personnel on election duty, said deputy commissioner Sarvendu Tathagart.
A bus carrying security forces was blown up by the improvised explosive device blast. The Maoist rebels attacked at least 12 locations over the course of the day including a polling booth in Rohtas district in Bihar.
In two other districts in Orissa and Chhattisgarh, they blocked roads and cut off access to polling booths.
The rebels also snatched voting machines from two booths in Chhattisgarh's Dantewara district and killed six security personnel in a landmine explosion elsewhere. Two polling officials were also reported dead in a landmine strike, while a paramilitary trooper was shot dead during crossfire in the same state.
An election officer's vehicle was blown up by another landmine and five polling officers were reportedly killed when the Maoists detonated explosives in two districts in the state.
The rebellion was active across many constituencies that went to the polls on Thursday including those in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharasthra, Jharkhand and Bihar.
Of the 543 parliamentary seats being contested, 124 will be decided in the first of five phases to be held over the next month.
The country's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the ruling Congress for the deteriorating condition of security and failing to curtail Maoist rebellion.