The Hindu : Front Page : President appoints Manmohan Prime Minister

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Thursday, May 20, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

President appoints Manmohan Prime Minister

By Our New Delhi Bureau

HAPPY AT LAST: A relieved Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and Dr. Manmohan Singh address the press at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday after the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, appointed Dr. Singh Prime Minister. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI, MAY 19. Manmohan Singh, the former Union Finance Minister and author of the post-1991 economic reforms, and admittedly the cleanest man in Indian politics, will be the next Prime Minister of India, becoming the first person from a minority community to occupy the highest political office in the land. He will head the country's first ever Congress-led coalition, christened the United Progressive Alliance.

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in exercise of his powers under Article 75(1) of the Constitution, appointed Dr. Singh the next Prime Minister. He was given the letter of appointment when, accompanied by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, he called on the President to hand over the letters of support from the allies and supporting parties of the Congress.

The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on Saturday. A press communiqué issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan noted: "The President, having satisfied himself on the basis of these letters that the Congress-led alliance did enjoy majority in the newly constituted 14th Lok Sabha and therefore was in a position to form a government which would be stable, appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister and requested him to indicate the Members of the new Council of Ministers, and the President will administer Oath of Office and Secrecy on a date and time to be indicated by Dr. Manmohan Singh."

No particular date to prove majority

Significantly, the letter of appointment did not mention any requirement that Dr. Singh prove his majority in the Lok Sabha by any particular date. This means the new Prime Minister may be spared the burden of immediately having to prove his "numbers" and can wait for the normal business of the 14th Lok Sabha to demonstrate support.

Talking to reporters on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr. Singh said he felt "humble" and noted that "the nation had given the mandate to Srimati Sonia Gandhi." Standing beside him, a visibly relaxed Congress president — who was particularly keen to keep the spotlight on Dr. Singh — said she was happy to be relieved of the "tremendous pressure'' that had been mounted on her over the last couple of days to accept the office of Prime Minister. "I think the country will be safe under Dr. Manmohan Singh."

About his being a "reluctant Prime Minister," Dr. Singh reiterated that the mandate had been for Ms. Gandhi and that the party had spent the last few days trying to persuade her to accept the office. "I know my limitations," said the person billed the "original reforms man"; adding that he would proceed "with the guidance of `madam' and the support of the nation."

`Reforms with

a human face'

While he remained tightlipped about the contours of his Cabinet, Dr. Singh reiterated the Congress' refrain of promoting "reforms with a human face." Promising to carry forward the vision of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, to make the 21st century an "Indian Century," Dr. Singh said the new government's emphasis would be on a model for social and economic development that provides opportunities for the poor to participate in the development process.

Sonia, CPP chairperson

Earlier, Dr. Singh was "nominated" the "Leader of the Congress Party in Parliament to form the government," after Ms. Gandhi stepped down as the leader and was instead elected CPP chairperson. It was in her new capacity as CPP chairperson that she "nominated" Dr. Singh to head the government.

For most of the morning, Congress leaders staged an elaborate tableau of protestations of loyalty, wanting Ms. Gandhi to reverse her decision to step aside from the prime ministerial job. On the other hand, Ms. Gandhi and Dr. Singh separately met leaders of the allies, explaining to them the reasons for her decision. The allies had been requested late last night to send in fresh letters of support (as the earlier letters of support had been sought in favour of Ms. Gandhi) and by noon, all the revised letters were in.

In addition to the existing letters of support, the President also received letters from the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the National Loktantrik Party. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué said the RSP general secretary, K. Pankajakshan, accompanied by its central secretariat members handed over a letter extending their support from outside to the government being formed by the UPA.

P. Chidambaram, MP, also called on the President.

Ms. Gandhi was subjected to intense pressure from senior party members, including those of the Congress Working Committee and office-bearers of the All-India Congress Committee, who "resigned" from their posts. She stuck to her decision.

Later, the CPP general body meeting, the third such assembly in the last five days and the second on successive days, carried out an amendment to clause 5 of the CPP constitution to enable the chairperson to nominate the leaders of the party, the deputy leaders and whips in both the Houses. It also authorised the chairperson to name the leader of the CPP to head the government. With the amendment in place, the CPP first re-elected Ms. Gandhi to the post and adopted a resolution in which it considered her inability to go back on her decision to relinquish the office of the CPP leader. "In view of the above, it becomes incumbent on the party to fill the vacancy. It is proposed to authorise the CPP chairperson to nominate the leader of the CPP." This proposal was moved by G. Venkataswamy and seconded by Mohinder Singh Gill and passed unanimously.

Will remain

in politics: Sonia

In her address to the CPP, Ms. Gandhi said all the members who were upset or disappointed should know that she would remain in politics. "I will continue as Congress president and chairperson of the Congress Party in Parliament for as long as you want me to. I am one of you. And nothing will ever change that." She also urged the members to extend support to the new Prime Minister and the new Cabinet. Ms. Gandhi said she had always admired Dr. Singh for his qualities of head and heart.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Singh said Ms. Gandhi was his leader and that he would hate to be a substitute for her. "Nobody can be a substitute for Ms. Gandhi." He said that what was witnessed was a "rare example of sacrifice" set by her which was in keeping with the highest standards of idealism that were set during the freedom struggle.

While the Congress could legitimately take pride in the historic achievements during the regimes of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, it should also recognise that the task of building India was far from complete. In this regard, he referred to the talisman of Mahatma Gandhi of wiping out the tears from the eyes of every Indian.

Late tonight, Dr. Singh began the difficult task of putting together a Council of Ministers with the allies clamouring for "prestigious" portfolios.

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