Singh, Congress’ PM candidate

INDIA India’s ruling Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday nominated incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the party’s candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming general elections.

While issuing an election manifesto, Sonia Gandhi said she does not intend to change her decision of not becoming the country’s prime minister, which was made in the last elections in 2004. “I had made my position very clear in 2004 and there is no change in that position even now,” she said.

“There can be many candidates for the post of prime minister but nobody stands in front of Manmohan Singh. He has both experience and competence,” she said. The Congress party said in its manifesto it would introduce measures so that the country’s economic growth will be ensured.

It also promised to protect Indian farmers from the impact of global economic slowdown by extending interest relief to farmers and build on the flagship job creation programs.

India’s general elections will be held from mid-April until mid- May. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, the opposition BJP or Indian People’s Party, and the Communist-led Third Front force will contend for the more than 543 seats in the lower house of parliament.

NEW DELHI, Wednesday, Xinhua