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New Indian cabinet to be sworn in India's new government sworn in
(about 4 hours later)
Manmohan Singh is set to be sworn in at the head of a new Indian government in the capital, Delhi. India's new government, with Manmohan Singh as prime minister, has taken the oath of office in the capital, Delhi.
Mr Singh will be taking charge for a second term, only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to power after a full five-year term. Mr Singh is taking charge for a second time, only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to power following a full five-year term.
The Congress party won a decisive mandate in the recent polls and Mr Singh has emerged politically stronger.The Congress party won a decisive mandate in the recent polls and Mr Singh has emerged politically stronger.
However, a key ally of the Congress has left the governing alliance after disagreements over ministerial posts. Congress has made tackling the effects of the global economic crisis and ensuring growth its key priorities.
The Tamil Nadu-based DMK party said its 18 members of parliament would not serve in the government but would still support the coalition in the house. When votes were counted last weekend after India's marathon five-phase general election, Congress and its allies had 262 seats in parliament, compared to the BJP-led alliance's 158.
The move is seen as the first setback to the coalition, but analysts say it is unlikely to pose a serious threat to the government. Pakistan's message
The Congress party and its allies swept back to power when votes from the marathon five-phase general election were counted last weekend. Mr Singh and a 19-member cabinet took the oath of office from Indian President Pratibha Patil at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in Delhi.
Hard bargain Mr Singh has displayed an ability to stand firm and outlast his most trenchant critics The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8062882.stm">Analysis: PM's tough agenda class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8063285.stm">India's key new ministers class="" href="/1/hi/business/8059310.stm">What business wants
Mr Singh and a 19-member cabinet will take the oath of office from Indian President Pratibha Patil at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, in Delhi on Friday evening. Congress veterans Pranab Mukherjee, AK Antony and P Chidambaram were among those taking the oath.
Mr Singh has displayed an ability to stand firm and outlast his most trenchant critics The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8062882.stm">Analysis: PM's tough agenda Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee, who are among the key alliance partners, are also in the cabinet.
A press release on the website of the prime minister's office names Congress veterans Pranab Mukherjee, AK Antony and P Chidambaram among those who will be sworn in on Friday. The swearing-in will be followed over the next few days by announcements of other ministers.
Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee, who are among the key alliance partners, will also be in the cabinet. "This expansion will give due representation to allied parties," the prime minister's office said.
The swearing-in will be followed over the next few days by an expansion of the council of ministers to include other cabinet and junior ministers, the PMO says. On Friday, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari sent a message congratulating Congress.
"This expansion will give due representation to allied parties," it adds. "May I also take this opportunity to assure you that Pakistan remains committed to peace and prosperity in South Asia and will continue to work with India to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries peacefully and in a just manner."
Bargaining hard
Indian economic analyst Paranjoy Guha Thakurta says the challenge for Mr Singh's government will be to meet the aspirations of India's youthful and upwardly mobile middle classes while widening social safety nets for the poor, especially those living in rural areas.
But he says the Congress mandate is strong, with the weakening of parties on the left and right.
In recent days, Mr Singh and the leader of his Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, have been bargaining hard with their electoral allies over the distribution of cabinet positions.In recent days, Mr Singh and the leader of his Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, have been bargaining hard with their electoral allies over the distribution of cabinet positions.
On Thursday, the DMK left the alliance after talks failed. Reports said DMK leader M Karunanidhi was unhappy at the number of cabinet posts offered.On Thursday, the DMK left the alliance after talks failed. Reports said DMK leader M Karunanidhi was unhappy at the number of cabinet posts offered.
The Congress-led coalition said it had the support of 274 lawmakers prior to the DMK's announcement, which is two more than needed for a parliamentary majority. The Tamil Nadu-based party said it would still support the coalition from the outside.
The Congress-led coalition said it had the support of 274 lawmakers prior to the DMK's announcement, two more than needed for a parliamentary majority.
With outside support, the coalition said it had 322 members of the lower house of parliament backing it.With outside support, the coalition said it had 322 members of the lower house of parliament backing it.
Analysts say the DMK may be posturing. It made the same move after the 2004 election before eventually joining the ruling alliance.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says many thought that during his first term Mr Singh would find it difficult to withstand the pressure of demanding political allies.The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says many thought that during his first term Mr Singh would find it difficult to withstand the pressure of demanding political allies.
But throughout his career, our correspondent says, Mr Singh has displayed an ability to stand firm and outlast his most trenchant critics.But throughout his career, our correspondent says, Mr Singh has displayed an ability to stand firm and outlast his most trenchant critics.