India Congress Party Wins Decisive Election Victory

Manmohan Singh is the first prime minister to be re-elected after serving a full first term since Jawarharlal Nehru in 1961. Photo by ndtv.com

India's Congress party is holding meetings to decide on its ruling coalition, a day after its decisive victory in the general election.

With all but two results declared, the Congress-led alliance is projected to win 260 seats with the BJP on 157, the BBC reported.

The Third Front fell apart, with its prime movers, the leftists, suffering a huge defeat.

The focus now moves to the cabinet, with PM Manmohan Singh having already stressed the importance of youth.

He has said he hopes to persuade the rising star of the Nehru dynasty, Rahul Gandhi, to join the cabinet.

Gandhi's decision for Congress to go it alone in India's most politically important state. Uttar Pradesh, and the ease of his campaigning style have won many plaudits.

Congress leaders have already been meeting smaller parties to gain the few seats of support needed to form a workable coalition.

Meanwhile, world leaders have congratulated Congress on its victory.

US President Barack Obama said the elections had strengthened India's "vibrant democracy" and that the US would work to "enhance the warm partnership between our two countries".

The scale of the victory has surprised almost everyone in India and analysts say the markets will breathe a sigh of relief that there will not be a period of uncertainty as coalitions are hammered out.

Manmohan Singh is the first prime minister to be re-elected after serving a full first term since Jawarharlal Nehru in 1961.

India's new government must convene by 2 June.

 

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