NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Patil has appointed Manmohan Singh prime minister for a second consecutive term, after the UPA coalition staked its claim to form the govt.
The new ministry will be sworn in on May 22.
Apparently in view of the comfortable numbers the coalition has in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the president has not asked the prime minister to prove his strength in the house, PTI reported.
"I have pleasure to appoint you the prime minister and request you to advise me on the names of the others to be appointed to the council of ministers.
"I propose to administer the oath of office and secrecy to you on Friday, 22nd May 2009 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at a mutually convenient time," President Pratibha Patil said in her letter handed over to Singh when he called on her along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Reading out the president's letter, Singh said "you will come to know in due course of time" when asked whether MPs outside the pre-poll allies would included in the new ministry.
Manmohan Singh said the coalition has 274 members including four independents who are part of the Congress-led pre-poll alliance.
"We have the support of SP, BSP and RJD whose number adds up to another 48. All this adds up to 322," he said.
Asked about details of composition of the ministry, Singh said "we will talk in greater detail later."
Earlier in the day, the crucial UPA meet to decide Cabinet berths was held at 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. All the key pre-poll partners of the Congress attended the meeting. ( Watch )
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, NCP president Sharad Pawar and leader Praful Patel were present, along with senior Congress leaders, including Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and A K Antony besides Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi was re-elected UPA chairperson during the meeting. Her name was proposed by Karunanidhi and seconded by Mamata, the Trinamool Congress informed mediapersons.
All eyes are now on the likely candidates who would head some of the most important ministries in the next Congress-led UPA government. The ministry of human resource development, headed by controversial Congress leader Arjun Singh could throw up a surprise. According to sources, a serious contender for the ministry is Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Kapil Sibal’s name is also doing the rounds, according to TV channel Times Now.
While numbers are no longer a big hurdle for the Congress-led alliance and the process appears to be a formality, working out the terms of power-sharing may create complications. Congress leadership got a reminder on Tuesday when the DMK leadership came up with big `wish list' for portfolios.
There is also the fear that the muscle-flexing may encourage similar demands from Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. The Congress had initially estimated that the maverick partner may not insist on big portfolios because she would not like her colleagues to grow in stature. They are not so sure any more. The fear is that the arm twisting may incite the Trinamool leader to up her ante as she would not like to be seen as playing in a league below that of the DMK.
Congress may have a task on its hand if the Sharad Pawar demands that the representation of his contingent from the NCP should not be scaled down to be brought in line with the new numbers. Besides expectations of a suitable portfolio for Pawar, Congress will also have to manage demands for his associates like Praful Patel.
YSR sworn-in as Andhra CM, emerges as a mass leader
Hyderabad:Powering the Congress to a spectacular win in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections Andhra Pradesh, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who was sworn in on Wednesday as the Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, has emerged as an unassuming, crafty leader.
Overcoming a united opposition and anti-incumbency factor, YSR as he is popularly known, has romped home with ease winning for Congress 33 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and bagging 156 seats in the 294-member AP assembly.
The only Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh to complete a full five-year term and also retain it, Reddy, 59, took charge of the state in 2004 at a difficult time for the party which had been out of power in the state for ten years.
It was a tough challenge for Reddy, the son of a mason in Kadapa district, but he has always thrived in difficult times.
After graduating in medicine and practising for a while, Reddy, groomed by a family deeply involved ion public service, began his political career with Congress in mid-1970s.
Having recognised his leadership qualities, the then Prime Minister and AICC president Indira Gandhi made him the chief of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee way back in 1982.
But Reddy quit Congress following a split and joined Reddy Congress in revolt against Indira Gandhi. After the Reddy Congress was disbanded, he returned to the parent party and went on to become the PCC president again in 1997 when Telugu Desam Party was going strong and his erstwhile party colleague N Chandrababu Naidu was calling the shots in the state.
Girls outshine boys in CBSE 12th result
CHANDIGARH: Girls have left the boys way behind in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII examination held in the month of March/April covering states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory Chandigarh, the results of which were declared on Wednesday.
While the overall pass percentage for the boys is 77.56 per cent, the girls are way ahead at 86.24 per cent. A total of 1,04,873 students had taken the examination. "The overall pass percentage is 81.20 per cent," CBSE's Panchkula-based centre's Joint Secretary, D R Yadava said.
The overall pass percentage is down from 83.57 per cent in 2007, though it has slightly improved from last year's 80.80 per cent.
Giving the school-wise performance, he said the Kendriya Vidyalaya got a pass percentage of 90.98 per cent; Government schools got 78.88 per cent while Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and Independent Schools have the pass percentage of 94.52 per cent and 80.88 per cent, respectively.
Yadava said the result sheets are being despatched to the outstation schools while the schools of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula can collect them from the CBSE office.
DMK demands 7 cabinet berths; meeting with Pranab inconclusive
New Delhi:Congress and DMK on Wednesday discussed allocation of portfolios amid reports that the latter is staking claim to seven Cabinet berths. Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee and DMK chief M Karunanidhi held deliberations for about 45 minutes, trying to work out representation of DMK in the new government.
The discussions remained inconclusive as Mukherjee apparently wanted to consult party President Sonia Gandhi on the issue. "We discussed the mechanism for participation in the government. We shared our views with each other as this is the first meeting. Further discussions are required," Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting. Mukherjee was accompanied by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu, and Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to the Congress president, when he met Karunanidhi at Tamil Nadu Bhavan.
DMK leaders, including T R Baalu and Dayanidhi Maran, were also present during the meeting along with Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi. DMK, which has won 18 seats on its own and brought a total of 28 seats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in alliance with Congress, is said to be staking claim to seven berths in the new government, the same number it had in the outgoing ministry.
Karunanidhi's son Azhagiri, Maran, Kanimozhi and A Raja are said to be in the reckoning for cabinet berths while new entrant T K S Elangovan could be given a Minister of State slot.
Helen Davidson, who won Kanyakumari seat for the first time for DMK, is also being seen as a possible candidate for a Minister of State seat. DMK's share this time is two more than in the dissolved Lok Sabha. Karunanidhi met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday soon after his arrival here.
Mumbai attack: India gives more evidence to Pakistan
NEW DELHI: Responding to Pakistan's queries, India on Wednesday handed over to it the third dossier of evidence on Mumbai attacks, which includes certified DNA report and statement of the lone arrested terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab.
The voluminous documentation, comprising replies to 10 queries made by Pakistan and 15 booklets, were handed over by a senior official of the ministry of external affairs when he called a senior diplomat of the Pakistan high commission to the ministry here.
"MEA today handed over to the Pakistani high commission additional information and details related to the Mumbai terror attack sought by Pakistan," a statement by the ministry said.
The documents handed over to Pakistan included the certified report of Kasab's DNA report, sources said.
India had given DNA reports of the 10 terrorists involved in the attack to Pakistan on March 13. However, two DNA reports were of the same person and the report of Kasab was missing due to a clerical error.
The fresh dossier handed over to Pakistan also included a certified statement of Kasab made before a Mumbai court, which was being persistently sought by Islamabad to pursue its own investigations into the case.
Statements of witnesses made in the court and other documents related to it were also included in the 15 booklets which ran into 1500 pages. Such documents could not be handed over earlier because of legal issues, as the permission of the court was required.
The third dossier, given two months after the last one, is a comprehensive set of evidence to enable Pakistan to carry forward the probe, sources said, hoping that Islamabad would pursue the case to take it to its logical end.
India had on March 13 handed over to Pakistan a 401-page dossier, containing question-by-question replies and annexures.
The second dossier included telephone conversations of the 10 attackers and their Pakistan-based handlers intercepted during the 60-hour carnage, fingerprints, DNA profiles and other details of the terrorists who struck in Mumbai.
The dossier also included forensic analysis of GPS, ammunition and other equipment used by the terrorists.
Indian Business News
Yahoo, Google, MS still hiring in India
New York:Global majors like Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google may have decided to trim their workforce worldwide to cope with the economic turmoil, but these entities do have openings in India.
Interestingly, the companies are cutting jobs in India too, even as they have hiring plans in the country.
For instance, software giant Microsoft recently said it would create employment opportunities in tune with the growth of the Indian economy.
The announcement came from its Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer amid the firm proceeding with 5,000 job cuts worldwide, including 55 employees in India. The workforce reduction in the country would be completed in the next 18 months.
Few months ago, search engine giant Google unveiled plans of trimming as many as 200 jobs in sales and marketing operations worldwide. Nonetheless, the firm is hiring for about 20 positions in engineering operations, finance and software engineering, among others.
Google hints at partnership with Twitter: Report
Internet entity Yahoo! too would be slashing its employee strength as part of its efforts to bring down costs. At the same time, the company has over 100 vacancies in India, according to its website.
Steve Ballmer noted that Microsoft would continue to hire and create employment opportunities in line with the recovery and growth of the Indian economy.
"We had said that we would lay off about 5,000 people. We are still filling other jobs. We are mostly through that process globally and there is still some work to do.
"... There are areas where we are continuing to add people. As I said, these are global additions, so it is a little hard to separate our work globally from our work in India," he said.
Google hints at partnership with Twitter: Report
London:Internet search engine major Google may be looking at a partnership with micro-blogging site Twitter, says a media report.
‘The Telegraph’ quoting Google's Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt has reported that a partnership of Google with Twitter could be on the cards.
Schmidt hinted that a "partnership with Twitter could be close, although he dampened speculation that he is planning to buy the micro-blogging phenomenon," the daily said in a report published online.
Attributing to Schmidt, the report noted that the Internet giant "can work" with Twitter without having to buy the social network site, hinting that Twitter feeds could be indexed on Google.
The daily said Schmidt had held conversations with the Twitter founders about a strategic partnership. He was also quoted as saying, "We do not have to buy everyone to work with them".
Twitter offers micro-blogging, which allows users to send short text messages, among others, on various multimedia platforms.
According to the publication, Google is rumoured to be interested in acquiring the micro-blogging site Twitter because of its valuable real-time search engine.
Hewlett Packard to slash over 6,400 jobs
New York:Technology major Hewlett-Packard, which has posted a steep decline in second quarter profits, will be cutting more than 6,400 jobs or about two per cent of its global workforce in the coming months.
The company, which has a strong presence in India, has reported a 17 per cent fall in profits at USD 1.7 billion for the three months ended April 30, 2009.
In a conference call to discuss the second quarter performance on Tuesday, the firm said it would eliminate about "two per cent of the HP workforce, as we further streamline and simplify our organisation and our supply chains".
"These actions will be implemented over the next 12 months after consultation with employee representatives, where required," HP said.
According to the company website, it has about 3,21,000 employees worldwide and a reduction of two per cent would amount to more than 6,400 job losses.
HP's profits for the second quarter tumbled to USD 1.7 billion from USD 2.1 billion in the year-ago period, it said in a separate statement on Tuesday.
The entity's revenues for the latest quarter dropped three per cent to USD 27.4 billion. In the comparable period, the same stood at USD 1.7 billion.
IPL News
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets
NEW DELHI: Laxmi Ratan Shukla hit an unbeaten 48 as Kolkata Knight Riders beat defending champions Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets to end their campaign in the IPL at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
Rajasthan had to win this match to keep their semi-finals hopes alive by Kolkata achieved the victory target of 102 in 19.3 overs thanks to an unbeaten 57-run partnership between Shukla and Ajit Agarkar.
Displaying clamness under tremendous pressure, Shukla hit 2 sixes and 3 fours in his 46-ball 48, while Agarkar remained not out on 13. Shukla was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding knock.
Kolkata were 38/5 in 10 overs as they got off to a bad start as opener Sourav Ganguly was dismissed for a duck on the last ball of the first over by Munaf Patel.
On the first delivery of the next over, Amit Singh trapped captain Brendon McCullum (9) plumb in front of the wicket.
Munaf took his second wicket when he had Yashpal Singh (6) caught at third man by Rob Quiney.
Brad Hodge (6) was run out in the first over by Johan Botha who in his second over dismissed David Hussey (9) to reduce Kolkata to 37/5.
Earlier, Kolkata restricted Rajasthan to 101/9 in 20 overs.
Playing his first match in this IPL, Charl Langeveldt took 3 wickets, while Ajit Agarkar took 2 as three Rajasthan batsmen were run out thanks to the agility shown on the field by the Kolkata team.
The Rajasthan innings failed to gain any momentum whatsoever as a result of which only 4 of their batsmen managed double figures.
Put in to bat, Rajasthan got off to a bad start as Langeveldt struck with his first ball in this IPL by having Rob Quiney (1) caught behind by wicket keeper Shoaib Shaikh.
Swapnil Asnodkar was run out in the third over before Langeveldt struck again in his next over when Naman Ojha (22) edged a leg-cutter and keeper Shaikh dived to his right to take a fantastic catch.
Ajit Agarkar too struck in his first over when Johan Botha (8) edged the ball onto his stumps.
Langeveldt came back for a second spell and had Niraj Patel (14) caught by Sourav Ganguly.
Big hitters Yusuf Pathan and Tyron Henderson were run out in consecutive overs as Rajasthan were reduced to 62/7 in 12 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja and captain Shane Warne tried their best to lend some respectability to the Rajasthan total but both were clean bowled in successive overs.
Rajasthan have replaced Graeme Smith with Tyron Henderson, Niraj Patel with Abhishek Raut and Swapnil Asnodkar with Siddharth Trivedi. Kolkata have brought in Charl Langeveldt, Sourav Sarkar and Shoaib Shaikh.
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