Third Government Taking India’s Reins
A feeble alliance of low-caste and regional groups prepared to take office today as India’s third government in as many weeks.
H.D. Deve Gowda, who was to be sworn in a prime minister, was invited to form a government after a nationalist Hindu party, winners of last month’s general elections, resigned rather than face a parliamentary confidence vote it was certain to lose.
Gowda’s United Front controls 190 seats in the 545-member lower house of Parliament and has to depend on support of the 136 members of the Congress Party.