Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!remus.rutgers.edu!shakti.ernet.in!ramani From: ramani@shakti.ernet.in Newsgroups: misc.news.southasia Subject: India News Message-ID: Date: 20 Jun 91 21:07:52 GMT Sender: gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu Lines: 51 Approved: gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu Narasimha Rao invited by President to form Government The President, Mr R Venkataraman, invited Mr Rao to form the new government and prove his majority within four weeks. The swearing-in ceremony will be at 1250 hours, Mr Rao told newsmen at rashtrapati bhavan after his 40-minute meeting with the presdient. Replying to questions, Mr Rao said + we will take appropriate decision soon regarding seeking support of other parties. New Delhi,June 20 () Mr.P.V. Narasimha Rao, chosen unanimously today as the leader of the Congress-i parliamentary party, will be sworn-in tomorrow as India's ninth PrimeMinister. The 70-year-old scholar politician, who succeeded Mr.Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress-ichief, met the President, Mr R Venkataraman, and staked his claim to form the government. While inviting Mr Rao to constitute the ministry, the president asked him to prove his majority on the floor of the Lok Sabha within four weeks. Heading the single largest party in the Lok Sabha with 224 members and supported by 16 members of allied parties, Mr Rao's government falls 16 short of absolute majority in a house with an effective strength of 511. Neither the BJP nor the national front-left front combine has voiced opposition to formation of the Congress-i government. The way for Mr.Rao's unanimous election was paved following the withdrawal by the Maharashtra Chief Minister,Mr Sharad Pawar, from the leadership race. New Delhi, June 20 () the Prime Minister-designate, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, said tonight he felt +humble and confident+ in assuming office of the head of government of the world's largest democracy. The 70-year old Mr Rao was talking to newsmen in the forecourt of rasthrapati bhawan after a 40-minute meeting with the president, Mr r.Venkataraman. Mr Rao will become the ninth Prime Minister of the country after the swearing-in ceremony at 1250 hours tomorrow. End of Article ===============