India's first coalition government led by the Congress party took office Saturday headed by renowned economist Manmohan Singh, who has pledged to provide a stable and secular government.

Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 71, and other ministers in a 110-minute ceremony at Ashoka Hall of the presidential palace.

Indo-Asian News Service reported that a total of 68 ministers were sworn in, which included many Congress stalwarts and leaders of key allies forming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Singh became India's 13th prime minister, capping a series of dramatic events that saw his predecessor Atal Behari Vajpayee bowing out in a shock defeat.

Manmohan Singh, considered a "Mr. Clean" in Indian politics, retained the portfolio of finance, which he had held in the previous Congress regime of 1991-1996.

Vajpayee joined the ranks of former prime ministers in Saturday's function -- P. V. Narasimha Rao, I. K. Gujral, V. P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar and H. D. Deve Gowda.

Notably, this is the first time both the president and the prime minister belong to minority communities, and both have apolitical roots, IANS said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who renounced the post of prime minister amid a shrill campaign against her foreign origin, also attended the function.

The 119-year-old Congress party returned to power after eight years but as the head of a coalition government for the first time.

A former finance minister, Manmohan Singh was propelled to the nation's top job after Italian-born Sonia Gandhi gave up the post amid a virulent campaign against a person of foreign born becoming prime minister.

Source: Xinhua