Manmohan Singh will be the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after a full five-year term with the Congress having nominated him as its candidate for the top post, first time it had done in its history.

The largest election in history, involving more than 700 million voters, has resulted in the victory of India's ruling alliance, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Indian National Congress. The massive vote, was held between April 16 and May 13 2009, staggered across five phases for logistical and security reasons.

Total voter turnout was approximately 60 per cent, the national election commission said, up slightly from 58 per cent in the last national vote in 2004.

The newly-constituted Congress Parliamentary Party’s (CPP) representative Manmohan Singh will be sworn in for a second term as the Prime Minister of India on 22nd May 09. Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party chief, was unanimously re-elected head of the United Progressive Alliance or UPA, the official name of the Congress-led alliance that has ruled India for five years

With a free hand, Mr. Singh is likely to open India's insurance, retail and banking sectors to greater foreign investment. The nation's pension regulator could also get proper legal standing, which would also encourage investment. And some steps might be taken to loosen labor laws.