Party backs veteran reformer to lead India

India’s victorious Congress party named a 71-year-old economic reformer and political veteran today as their candidate to become India’s next prime minister after Sonia Gandhi shocked the nation by abandoning her claim to the top job.

Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress official, told The Associated Press that Manmohan Singh was their new candidate. The party, which topped the polls in India’s three-week general elections, must now take his candidacy to their allies for their support.