India's congress asks for fresh letters of support from allies

The Congress party has asked for fresh letters of support from pre-poll allies and other coalition partners to back a government that could be headed by Congress leader Manmohan Singh.

Senior Congress leaders have been sent to allied partners for getting the fresh letters as earlier letters of support were for a government headed by Sonia Gandhi, who decided not to become primeminister on Tuesday evening, the Press Trust of India on Wednesday quoted Congress sources as said.

The sources said the letters could be secured by afternoon and then handed over to President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who is expected to invite Singh to form the new government.

Meanwhile, the Congress started circulating a resolution for electing Singh as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) on Wednesday.

A senior Congress leader said the resolution has been circulated among party MPs to be returned by Wednesday afternoon after being signed.

Another round of CPP might take place later in the day after theresolution process is over, he said.

A Congress leader said Gandhi and Manmohan Singh are expected to meet resident Kalam on Wednesday evening to discuss the formation of the new government.

Source: Xinhua