<p>Armed with the support of 322 MPs, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) met the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday evening to stake claim to form a government.<br /><br />UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was re-elected to the post in the morning, said she handed over a letter to the president "stating that the leader of the parliamentary party to head the government is Dr Manmohan Singh".<br /><br />After a short meeting lasting no more than 10 minutes, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh addressed reporters at the forecourt of the presidential palace.<br /><br />"I called on president to stake claim on formation of new government," Manmohan Singh said, disclosing that the president had proposed May 22 for the swearing in "at a mutually convenient time".<br />Giving details of how the numbers stacked up, he said: "We have 274 members who are part of the Congress and pre-poll alliance, also including four independents. The total number adds up to 274."<br />"We have support of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal... they have another 48 MPs. This totals amounts to 322."<br />Manmohan Singh also read out Patil's congratulatory note felicitating him on him being chosen as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. <br />The president said in her letter that she was acting on the fact that "yours is the single largest party and the largest pre-election alliance". <br />Patil told Manmohan Singh: "(I am) taking note of the letters of support enabling you to command majority support of the newly constituted 15th Lok Sabha, I have the pleasure to appoint you the prime minister and request you to advise me as to the names of others to be appointed members of council of ministers."<br /><br />"I propose to administer the oath on May 22," she said in her letter.<br /><br />Earlier in the day, Manmohan Singh was renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader. <br />The 76-year-old Singh was named by Congress President Sonia Gandhi as the Congress Parliamentary Party leader and Leader of the Rajya Sabha after she was unanimously elected Chairperson of the CPP.<br /><br />The economist-turned-politician will be creating a history of sorts by becoming the Prime Minister for a second time after a full term at the helm. Pandit Nehru was the first Prime Minister to achieve such a feat.</p>
<p>Armed with the support of 322 MPs, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) met the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan Wednesday evening to stake claim to form a government.<br /><br />UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was re-elected to the post in the morning, said she handed over a letter to the president "stating that the leader of the parliamentary party to head the government is Dr Manmohan Singh".<br /><br />After a short meeting lasting no more than 10 minutes, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh addressed reporters at the forecourt of the presidential palace.<br /><br />"I called on president to stake claim on formation of new government," Manmohan Singh said, disclosing that the president had proposed May 22 for the swearing in "at a mutually convenient time".<br />Giving details of how the numbers stacked up, he said: "We have 274 members who are part of the Congress and pre-poll alliance, also including four independents. The total number adds up to 274."<br />"We have support of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal... they have another 48 MPs. This totals amounts to 322."<br />Manmohan Singh also read out Patil's congratulatory note felicitating him on him being chosen as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. <br />The president said in her letter that she was acting on the fact that "yours is the single largest party and the largest pre-election alliance". <br />Patil told Manmohan Singh: "(I am) taking note of the letters of support enabling you to command majority support of the newly constituted 15th Lok Sabha, I have the pleasure to appoint you the prime minister and request you to advise me as to the names of others to be appointed members of council of ministers."<br /><br />"I propose to administer the oath on May 22," she said in her letter.<br /><br />Earlier in the day, Manmohan Singh was renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader. <br />The 76-year-old Singh was named by Congress President Sonia Gandhi as the Congress Parliamentary Party leader and Leader of the Rajya Sabha after she was unanimously elected Chairperson of the CPP.<br /><br />The economist-turned-politician will be creating a history of sorts by becoming the Prime Minister for a second time after a full term at the helm. Pandit Nehru was the first Prime Minister to achieve such a feat.</p>