Manmohan to stake claim today
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agency
New Delhi, May 19 2009:
Manmohan Singh was re-nominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader on Tuesday by party Chief Sonia Gandhi to head the new government.
He is likely to stake claim to form government tomorrow.
Gandhi named 76-year-old Singh as the CPP leader to lead the government at a CPP meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament and this was unanimously approved by the members amid thumping of desks.
Pranab Mukherjee proposed the name of Manmohan Singh as the CPP leader and many others including Dr Th Meinya, a second time MP from Manipur seconded the proposal.
Fresh from the spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the meeting saw Gandhi, who was re-elected the CPP chairperson, telling Congress workers to put the party before self, remain disciplined and united to emerge even stronger in the future.
Sonia Gandhi has been re-elected as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
The new Congress-led UPA government is likely to take oath on May 22 .
According to reports, the United Progressive Alliance is likely to stake claim to the formation of government tomorrow besides having a meet at the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The alliance will also get letters of support tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, Dr Manmohan Singh was renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader by party chief Sonia Gandhi to head the new government.
At the meeting of newly elected Congress MPs held at Parliament's central hall, Sonia Gandhi was also elected chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).
Her name was proposed by senior Karnataka leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
The CPP also endorsed Singh as the leader of Rajya Sabha, while Pranab Mukherjee has been given the charge of the Lok Sabha.
76-year-old Singh's renomination as the CPP leader to lead the government was unanimously approved by the members amid thumping of desks.
The first session of the 15th Lok Sabha is expected to begin on June 2 when new members would take oath and President Pratibha Patil will address a joint sitting of the Parliament, official sources said.
The session will see appointment of senior most member of the Lok Sabha as Protem Speaker who will administer oath to the new members and also oversee the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
Nine-term member Manikrao Gavit, who has a cumulative Parliamentary experience of 27 years and eight months is likely to be appointed as the Protem Speaker.
Gavit (75) was elected from tribal constituency of Nandurbar in Maharashtra on a Congress ticket.
He served as Minister of State for Home in the UPA government.
Other senior members are CPI(M)'s Basudeb Acharia, who has a parliamentary experience of 27 years and five months, followed by Congress leader Kamal Nath (26 years two months) and Vilas Muttemwar (24 years 11 months).
As per precedent, the first session of the Lok Sabha is a short session.
The new government will take a view on whether to continue the same session for presentation of the Budget.