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India's Manmohan Singh to step down as PM India's Manmohan Singh to step down as PM
(about 5 hours later)
India's veteran prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has announced he will step down after nearly 10 years in office, setting the scene for a polarising clash between personalities and ideologies in polls due within months. India's veteran prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has announced he will step down after almost 10 years in office, setting the scene for a polarising clash between personalities and ideologies in polls due within months.
The world's largest democracy is likely to hold a general election – almost certainly the biggest such exercise ever – in April or May. It will pit Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India's first political family against Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu nationalist opposition candidate. The world's largest democracy is likely to hold a general election – almost certainly the biggest such exercise ever – in April or May. It will pit Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India's first political family, against Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu nationalist opposition candidate.
Singh, 81, told reporters in Delhi, the capital, that Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather all led India, had "outstanding credentials" to become the next prime minister and leader of the Congress Party. Singh, 81, told reporters in Delhi, the capital, that Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather all led India, had outstanding credentials to become the next prime minister and leader of the Congress party. He said that if Modi was elected it would be disastrous for the country.
He said that if Modi was elected it would be "disastrous" for the country. Congress, which has led coalition governments since ousting the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in 2004, is expected to break with the tradition of not announcing a candidate before polls by naming Gandhi later this month.
Congress, which has led coalition governments since ousting the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in 2004, is expected to break with the tradition of not announcing a candidate before polls to name Gandhi later this month. The press conference – only Singh's third in a decade – was interpreted by analysts as a belated attempt to change the perception that his leadership has been at best lacklustre, at worst negligent. Though economic growth in India peaked at almost 10% early in his tenure, it has slowed in recent years and any incoming government will face intimidating structural economic problems.
The press conference on Friday - – only Singh's third in a decade – was interpreted by analysts as a belated attempt to change the perception that his leadership has been at best lacklustre, at worst negligent. Though economic growth peaked at near 10% early in his tenure, it has slowed in recent years and any incoming government will face a raft of intimidating structural economic problems. In his speech, Singh listed his government's achievements, though he admitted its inability to contain inflation or generate enough jobs. He said the poverty ratio in India had fallen steeply to 21.9% in 2012 from 37.2% in 2004 and that initiatives including a new right to information law had improved public life.
In a prepared speech, Singh listed his government's achievements, though admitted its inability to contain inflation or generate enough jobs. Singh said the poverty ratio in India had fallen steeply to 21.9% in 2012 from 37.2% in *2004 and that initiatives including a new right to information law had improved public life. Analysts blamed heavy defeats for Congress in recent state elections on a series of corruption scandals. In the Indian capital, the new anti-establishment Aam Admi partyscored an unexpected victory and Congress was wiped out.
Analysts blamed heavy defeats for Congress in recent state elections on a series of corruption scandals. The votes in November and December were widely seen as a semi-final before the elections next year. In Delhi itself, the new anti-establishment Aam Admi party (AAP) scored an unexpected victory and Congress was wiped out. "Gandhi has been unofficial standard bearer, that will now be formalised. There will be a big song and dance about asking him, then he'll consider and eventually accept. But there is a general fatigue in India with this kind of politics," said Mohan Guruswamy, a Delhi-based political analyst.
"[Rahul] Gandhi has been unofficial standard bearer, that will now be formalised. There will be a big song and dance about asking him, then he'll consider and eventually accept. But there is a general fatigue in India with this kind of politics," said Mohan Guruswamy, a Delhi-based political analyst.
The BJP's campaign has been energised by the decision to pick Modi, chief minister of western Gujarat state for the past 11 years and one of India's most divisive figures, as the party's prime ministerial candidate.The BJP's campaign has been energised by the decision to pick Modi, chief minister of western Gujarat state for the past 11 years and one of India's most divisive figures, as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
Modi is close to hardline Hindu nationalist and cultural organisations and is still blamed by many for failing to protect Muslims during sectarian rioting in Gujarat in 2002. The violence left more than 1,000 people dead. Modi is close to hardline Hindu nationalist and cultural organisations and is still blamed by many for failing to protect Muslims during sectarian rioting in Gujarat in 2002 that left more than 1,000 people dead.
"Without discussing the merits of Modi, it would be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister," Singh, who opposition MPs have attacked as "weak", said."Without discussing the merits of Modi, it would be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister," Singh, who opposition MPs have attacked as "weak", said.
"If by a strong prime minister they mean you preside over the massacre of innocent citizens on the streets ... If that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that is the sort of strength this country needs, least of all from its prime minister," Singh told reporters. "If by a strong prime minister they mean you preside over the massacre of innocent citizens on the streets ... If that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that is the sort of strength this country needs, least of all from its prime minister," Singh told reporters."
Modi has denied any role in the violence and he says he has no responsibility for the killings. Last month, he wrote on a blog that he was shaken by the violence and said his government responded to it swiftly and decisively. Modi has denied any role in the violence and he says he has no responsibility for the killings. Last month, he wrote on a blog that he was shaken by the violence and said his state government responded to it swiftly and decisively.
The 63-year-old is popular with the business community and among many urban voters.The 63-year-old is popular with the business community and among many urban voters.
Major figures within the BJP appear to think Modi's high profile gives them a chance at winning an outright majority at next year's polls, avoiding complex and difficult coalition building. Party strategists told the Guardian last year they believe Modi appeals to younger voters who see "a can do-er" not an "autocrat", as critics depict him. Major figures within the BJP appear to think Modi's high profile gives them a chance of winning an outright majority at the next election, avoiding complex and difficult coalition building. Party strategists say he appeals to younger voters who see "a can-doer" and not the autocrat critics depict him to be.
The 150 million first-time voters in India will be crucial in determining if the current coalition – which took power from the BJP in 2004 – win what is predicted to be a bitter and close contest next year. The 150 million first-time voters in India will be crucial in determining who wins what is predicted to be a bitter and close contest.
Half of India's population is aged under 26, with an even higher proportion in the big, poor northern states such as Uttar Pradesh.Half of India's population is aged under 26, with an even higher proportion in the big, poor northern states such as Uttar Pradesh.
Singh, a technocrat, was chosen to fill the prime minister's seat in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and party chairman.Singh, a technocrat, was chosen to fill the prime minister's seat in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and party chairman.
The former World Bank economist is widely seen as a loyal timeserver, whose priority has been to maintain the Congress grip on power until Rahul Gandhi, a former management consultant still widely seen as yet to prove his political mettle, was ready to take what some see as his birthright.The former World Bank economist is widely seen as a loyal timeserver, whose priority has been to maintain the Congress grip on power until Rahul Gandhi, a former management consultant still widely seen as yet to prove his political mettle, was ready to take what some see as his birthright.
"Both Gandhi and Modi have been nominated by small groups of people in a totally opaque fashion, membership rank and file are not consulted," Guruswamy, the analyst, said. "Both Gandhi and Modi have been nominated by small groups of people in a totally opaque fashion. Membership rank and file are not consulted," Guruswamy said.
"In India we have a very peculiar democracy. Parties compete with each other but are undemocratically structured, controlled by parties and clans, even the BJP which was once fairly open.""In India we have a very peculiar democracy. Parties compete with each other but are undemocratically structured, controlled by parties and clans, even the BJP which was once fairly open."
Gandhi, vice-president of Congress, recently took on the old guard of the organisation when he publicly opposed an executive order from Singh which would have allowed politicians convicted of criminal charges to remain in office and stand in elections.Gandhi, vice-president of Congress, recently took on the old guard of the organisation when he publicly opposed an executive order from Singh which would have allowed politicians convicted of criminal charges to remain in office and stand in elections.
In Friday's press conference, Singh also addressed the recent row between India and the US, sparked by the arrest and strip search in New York of an Indian diplomat on charges of underpaying her Indian maid and visa fraud.In Friday's press conference, Singh also addressed the recent row between India and the US, sparked by the arrest and strip search in New York of an Indian diplomat on charges of underpaying her Indian maid and visa fraud.
India has repeatedly demanded that charges be dropped and a pubic apology though without success so far.India has repeatedly demanded that charges be dropped and a pubic apology though without success so far.
The prime minister admitted there had been "some hiccups" recently in relations with the US but described them as "temporary aberrations" which he hoped would be resolved by diplomacy.The prime minister admitted there had been "some hiccups" recently in relations with the US but described them as "temporary aberrations" which he hoped would be resolved by diplomacy.
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