Manmohan Singh was today renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader by party chief Sonia Gandhi to head the new government. 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.
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.
"The people's verdict tells us that above all else they crave honest and capable governance and decency in public life. We must not disappoint them," Gandhi said.
In his acceptance speech, Singh said the "impressive mandate" came with "the challenge of rising expectations".
"The youth of India, inspired by the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, have voted in large numbers for our party.But it is in the nature of the youth to be impatient. They will not tolerate business as usual. They expect us to work with renewed energy," he said.
The Prime Minister also sought to reach out to the opposition parties. With the disruptions in the 14th Lok Sabha, apparently weighing heavily on his mind, the Prime Minister hoped that the 15th Lok Sabha will witness "a more cooperative atmosphere and more productive proceedings."
"We will extend a hand of friendship to members of all political parties, cutting across the political spectrum and invite them to play the role of a constructive opposition," Singh said.
Earlier citing a relevant clause of the constitution of the CPP, Gandhi named Singh as the party's leader in the Lok Sabha and urged members to support him.
"His dignified, determined and effective leadership of the government has been an inspiration for us all and has received overwhelming approval from the people of the country," she said.
Gandhi also hailed Singh's record as Prime Minister for the past five years and said, "We look forward to his leadership in the coming years."
Expressing happiness that there were several new and younger faces among the elected members, she said, "As party members, whether occupying government office or not, whether having a position in the organisation or not, we have a duty to remain disciplined and united, putting party before self." "After many years of fractious politics, we should work together with the Parliamentary representatives of all parties towards restoring the decorum of political discourse," she said.
The CPP unanimously adopted a resolution thanking the people for the "clear mandate" and assuring them that the party would strive to fulfil the promises in the election manifesto.
"The verdict of the voter in 2009 is visibly and strongly different from the mandate in previous elections during a decade and a half. The people of India have given a mandate for secularism and inclusive growth. ... It has become a watershed verdict for the welfare of the aam aadmi (common man)," Gandhi said.
Buoyed over the poll verdict, Gandhi told the meeting "we have seen that notions such as anti-incumbency, and pulls and pressures from caste or region, can be overcome by dedication and real work."
At the outset, Gandhi said a long and difficult election had come to an end with a result that was both "exhilarating and sobering".
"We have received a generous mandate, but one that comes with onerous responsibilities. We have won an election but also undertaken a serious obligation," she said.
Indicating that the new government would be a "blend of experience and energy", Singh said the party's composition in the new Lok Sabha was a "blessing for the government".
"You represent a healthy mix of experience, talent and youthful enterprise. Our government will, therefore, be a blend of experience and energy," he said.
The Prime Minister said "the inspirational leadership" of Sonia Gandhi and the "enterprise and ingenuity" of Rahul and the dedication and hard work of all Congress workers has made the victory possible.
"The people of India have given us an impressive verdict. They have rubbished the fashionable theory of anti-incumbency. But we have to work harder and better to secure a wholesome mandate, entirely in our favour. That is the challenge before our party and our government," he said.
With Singh's re-election, the process of formation of the new government is expected to gain momentum with the Congress expecting to approach President Pratibha Patil to stake claim. The letter from the AICC would be accompanied by letters of support from UPA constituents.
