Having been chosen as the Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party, Dr. Manmohan Singh, accompanied by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, Congress Parliamentary Party and the UPA called on the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at 5.00 p.m. today at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Staking claim to form the government, they also handed over to the President letters of support extended to them by various political parties and others.

The President having satisfied herself, on the basis of the various letters of support received, that the Congress-led 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.

The President will administer Oaths of Office and Secrecy on Friday, 22 May 2009 at a mutually convenient time which will be decided soon.

The release issued at 1800 hrs