New Delhi, May 22
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh categorically said here this evening that the mandate for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was for a change and his government had a development strategy to empower the poor.
Affirming his government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s secular foundations, he said the Cabinet reflected the diversity much more effectively than evidenced in the past.
“This mandate is for a change and strengthening the secular foundation of our Republic to carry forward the process of social and economic change benefitting the poorer sections, especially farmers and workers,” Dr Manmohan Singh said in an interface with mediapersons after being sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Humility personified and self-effacing as is his wont, he told a questioner that he had never thought of being India’s Prime Minister.
When former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered his good wishes to Dr Manmohan Singh, he said he needed such blessings for tasks ahead.
Responding to a question, he said portfolios of the members of the union council of ministers would be announced tomorrow. He refused to disclose if he would retain the portfolios of finance and defence for the present. “Everything will be known tomorrow,” he observed in his own disarming style.
He acknowledged there were difficulties in the government-formation exercise and added that “all of them were overcome.” At the same time he had no doubt the government would run its term of five years.
He said it would be his bounden duty to carry out the trust reposed in him by Congress President and CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the people of the country.
Immediately after the function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Manmohan Singh got down to business by visiting his office at South Block on the majestic Raisina Hill.
Mrs Gandhi, who met reporters briefly, said she would concentrate on reorganising the Congress Working Committee as many of its members had joined the government.
Earlier, Mr Vajpayee remarked in his inimitable style that his immediate plan was to get some rest.
On being the leader of the Opposition, Mr Vajpayee reminded the assemblage that he had served in that capacity for 43 years before becoming the Prime Minister. “That is a long time,” he contended.
