Manmohan in saddle

The incumbent premier, who has had a long and distinguished career as an economist and banker and bureaucrat to his credit, as well as a highly regarded term as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996 in the government of Narasimha Rao, is an unimpeachable choice for the prime ministership. And, this has been well-received within India as well as outside India.

As the architect of the pro-market reforms adopted by the Narasimha Rao government and continued by the BJP-led NDA since 1996, Dr. Singh has the stature and credibility to reassure both Indians and nervous foreign investors that he will ably manage the economic reforms that are necessary for India's continued development.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

However, Dr. Singh has made it clear that while he remains committed to much-needed economic reform, he will preside over a regimen of "economic reforms with a human face." He has promised the rural poor "a responsible macro-economic policy that focuses on agriculture and employment."

Dr. Singh, who is India's first PM from the minority Sikh community has also pledged to make "unity and communal harmony a priority" for his government. In all other spheres, by building on the advances of the NDA years while reigning in or reversing the worst of the NDA's excesses, Dr. Singh's administration promises to be a bright one that "gives the world and the Indian people a model for reform."

His desire to work for good neighbourly relations in South Asia with a focus on rapprochement with Pakistan augurs well for peace and prosperity in South Asia.

The Bangladeshi PM and leader of the opposition have extended handsome sentiments of congratulation to the new PM and there is good cause for hope that Dr. Singh's premiership will usher in an era of renewed co-operation between our nation and India. On matters of bilateral concern, such as India's notorious river linking project, Dhaka can expect a friendly ear in Dr. Manmohan Singh. Indeed, on all bilateral matters, such as the trade imbalance, push-back at the border, delimitation of land and maritime boundaries, we look forward to a cooperative approach from the new Indian government.