From correspondents in Delhi, India, 06:00 PM IST

President Pratibha Patil Wednesday invited Manmohan Singh to be the next prime minister of India and asked him to advise her on the council of ministers.

Claiming the support of 322 MPs, Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had staked claim to form the next government at a meeting with the president.

The new ministry will be sworn in Friday.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)