News

Manmohan Singh resigns as Prime Minister

by IBNS 17 May 2014, 12:42 pm

New Delhi, May 17 (IBNS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday submitted his resignation after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.

Singh arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan around 1 pm.

Earlier in the day, Singh addressed the nation, a day after his government suffered a humiliating defeat in the national elections, saying that he would submit to the judgement served by the electorate.

“There is a judgment in court of public opinion that all elected government officials are required to submit to, each one of us should respect the judgment you have delivered,” Singh said a day after votes of the Lok Sabha election were counted.

Results on Friday showed Singh’s Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was routed to just 59 seats while Prime Minister-electNarendra Modi took the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a whopping 337-seat victory.

Two-time Prime Minister Singh however held a strong face and defended his government that came to power in 2004 saying, “India is a far stronger country than it was a decade ago.”

“There is vast development potential in the country…I firmly believe in the emergence of India as a major powerhouse. Evolving global economy is an idea whose time has come,” Singh said.

He said, “I wish the incoming government every success and pray for greater success for our nation.”

“My life and tenure an open book. I owe everything to this country. It's a debt I will never be able to repay and a decoration I will always wear with pride,” said the Prime Minister who is expected to file his resignation later in the day.

Mired by corruption scandals and facing growing resentment over indecisive governance form an increasingly aspirational electorate, theUPA government had long been expected to fare badly in the polls.

Later in the evening, Singh will host tea for the members of his Council of Ministers.

The President will also host a dinner for him on Saturday.

After vacating his official residence at 7, Race Course Road, Singh will soon move into a bungalow at 3, Motilal Nehru Road.