Singh will not seek new term as prime minister
India’s prime minister Manmohan Singh said he would step aside after general elections due to be held by May. The 81 year-old prime minister has been in office for 10 years. His remark at a rare press conference paves the way for Rahul Gandhi to take the reins if the Congress party stays in power.
"I am not going to be a candidate for the Prime Ministership if the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) were to come back into power. Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials to be nominated as the presidential candidate and I hope our party will take that decision at an appropriate time," Manmohan Singh said.
Singh said the economic growth was now at a nine year high, and it was now more inclusive than ever. But he admitted that his government had failed to tackle high inflation and unemployment in the manufacturing sector.
Singh said the government would continue to push ahead with reforms. The opposition party, the BJP, has criticized Manmohan Singh and his government over corruption. The BJP made strong gains in recent state elections and is hoping to repeat that performance in the upcoming general election.
