Headlines from today's papers.
Modi to stake claim to form government today
The parliamentary party of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to meet today to formally elect Narendra Modi as their leader. The BJP has also invited its pre-poll allies to take part in the meeting which will be held in the Central Hall of Parliament. Modi is then due to call on President Pranab Mukherjee to stake his claim to form the government. Modi's swearing-in ceremony as the country's next prime minister is expected to be held between May 25 and May 27. Meanwhile, the BJP still continued with its deliberations over government formation, with senior leader Sushma Swaraj meeting Modi and party president Rajnath Singh on Monday.
CWC rejects resignations of Rahul, Sonia
The Congress Working Committee rejected the resignations of party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday. The two had earlier offered to quit after taking moral responsibility for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the Congress's highest decision-making body refused to hold either member of the Gandhi family responsible for the party's electoral failure, instead affirming that both would be needed if the party was to fight back against the incoming Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Nitish confirms resignation, Manjhi nominated as new Bihar CM
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar refused to budge from his decision to step down as Bihar chief minister following the party's lacklustre show in the general elections. Instead, Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi was nominated to the post. The Mahadalit community, who account for 12% of votes, is a creation of Kumar himself, who put all Scheduled Caste groups apart from the Paswans into this category. Manjhi's name was not in the initial list of probables for the CM post and his nomination by Kumar is seen as a strong political message that power is being transferred to the Scheduled Castes.
Pakistan extends hand to Modi
Pakistan on Monday expressed its willingness to work with India's Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi to resolve "differences and disputes". Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, confirmed his country's willingness to host Modi as a guest in his country whenever the newly elected PM was ready for such a trip. Basit went on to express his government's belief that both countries longed for peace and prosperity, and that resolving bilateral differences and disputes was essential for progress. He hoped that a comprehensive bilateral engagement with India would resume soon.
Sensex, Nifty rise to record closing highs
The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty indexes both hit record closing highs on Monday, as investors continued to switch to stocks with domestic focus on the hope that a Narendra Modi-led government will spur major economic reforms. After breaching the intra-day barrier of 25,000 on Friday, the Sensex on Monday rose 241 points to end the day at 24,363. The broader Nifty rose 60.5 points to end at 7,263.5, after hitting an all-time high of 7,563.50 in the previous session. Broader gains, however, were capped as exporters lost greatly after the rupee strengthened to an 11-month high against the dollar.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Modi to stake claim to form government today
The parliamentary party of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to meet today to formally elect Narendra Modi as their leader. The BJP has also invited its pre-poll allies to take part in the meeting which will be held in the Central Hall of Parliament. Modi is then due to call on President Pranab Mukherjee to stake his claim to form the government. Modi's swearing-in ceremony as the country's next prime minister is expected to be held between May 25 and May 27. Meanwhile, the BJP still continued with its deliberations over government formation, with senior leader Sushma Swaraj meeting Modi and party president Rajnath Singh on Monday.
CWC rejects resignations of Rahul, Sonia
The Congress Working Committee rejected the resignations of party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday. The two had earlier offered to quit after taking moral responsibility for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the Congress's highest decision-making body refused to hold either member of the Gandhi family responsible for the party's electoral failure, instead affirming that both would be needed if the party was to fight back against the incoming Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Nitish confirms resignation, Manjhi nominated as new Bihar CM
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar refused to budge from his decision to step down as Bihar chief minister following the party's lacklustre show in the general elections. Instead, Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi was nominated to the post. The Mahadalit community, who account for 12% of votes, is a creation of Kumar himself, who put all Scheduled Caste groups apart from the Paswans into this category. Manjhi's name was not in the initial list of probables for the CM post and his nomination by Kumar is seen as a strong political message that power is being transferred to the Scheduled Castes.
Pakistan extends hand to Modi
Pakistan on Monday expressed its willingness to work with India's Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi to resolve "differences and disputes". Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, confirmed his country's willingness to host Modi as a guest in his country whenever the newly elected PM was ready for such a trip. Basit went on to express his government's belief that both countries longed for peace and prosperity, and that resolving bilateral differences and disputes was essential for progress. He hoped that a comprehensive bilateral engagement with India would resume soon.
Sensex, Nifty rise to record closing highs
The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty indexes both hit record closing highs on Monday, as investors continued to switch to stocks with domestic focus on the hope that a Narendra Modi-led government will spur major economic reforms. After breaching the intra-day barrier of 25,000 on Friday, the Sensex on Monday rose 241 points to end the day at 24,363. The broader Nifty rose 60.5 points to end at 7,263.5, after hitting an all-time high of 7,563.50 in the previous session. Broader gains, however, were capped as exporters lost greatly after the rupee strengthened to an 11-month high against the dollar.