Manmohan Singh meets President, submits resignation

NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh met President Pratibha Patil a short while ago and submitted the resignations of his Council of Ministers. The President will invite him to form the next government on Tuesday. He also formally stepped down as the Prime Minister.

Earlier, at the final Cabinet meet at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh���s 7, Racecourse Road residence, the Council of Ministers tendered its resignation to the Prime Minister. The Union Cabinet recommended to President Patil the dissolution of the 14 th Lok Sabha.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, passed a resolution to this effect. Resolution of appreciation for the Prime Minister was also passed at the final Cabinet meet.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, whose parties received a drubbing in the elections, also attended the meeting.

Armed with a decisive mandate, Manmohan Singh will meet the President on Tuesday to show the UPA alliance has the numbers, and formally stake claim to form a new government at the Centre.

The UPA has fallen short by around 10 MPs to get to the magic figure of 272, but managed to attract smaller parties and the support of some independents to shore up its numbers.

Meanwhile, with attention swiftly turning to government formation, speculation has begun on who will hold key positions in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh���s next cabinet. The Congress is already getting ready to address claims of allies like DMK, NCP and the newly added Trinamool Congress.