India - election 2009

Manmohan Singh Prime Minister for second term

Article published on the 2009-05-19 Latest update 2009-05-19 15:02 TU

India's ruling Congress party chair Sonia Gandhi (L) and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting in New Delhi 19 May, 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

India's Congress Party has voted to maintain its winning team of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi as party chair. Singh is due to be sworn in for his second term on Friday by President Pratibha Patil.

Singh has vowed to revive economic growth in India.

"The period ahead could be decisive," he said on Tuesday. "We must grasp the nettle firmly and forge ahead ... This requires creating a social and political environment in which new investment can be made."

The 76-year-old Singh can afford to be confident. He is the first Prime Minister since the country's post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.

The Congress Party made its best showing since 1991 in the April-May elections, winning 206 seats in its own right. With its allies, it has 262 seats in the 543-seat lower house of parliament.

This time, the Congress-led alliance is without India's formerly influential communist parties, which won 24 seats in the general election, against 61 previously. The main opposition grouping led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 159 seats.

Singh said tackling terrorism would be a key goal for his new government. "I assure you we will not be found wanting in this task. The assurance of internal security is the topmost priority for us."

Sonia Gandhi, said the party could not take the electorate for granted.

"We must strengthen our relations with those who we serve," she said.