Congress sets out poll manifesto

Mrs Gandhi: "We believe in unity in diversity"

India's governing Congress party has released its election manifesto, appealing for a return to power so it can continue to push economic growth.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said "security and prosperity of all citizens will be our endeavour".

Incumbent Manmohan Singh was confirmed as the candidate for PM. He said a faster and more inclusive growth in India was possible.

The general elections will be held in five phases over April and May.

Polling to elect the new Lok Sabha (lower house) begins on 16 April and runs to 13 May. Counting is due on 16 May.

Nearly four million officials will conduct the elections and 714 million voters are eligible to cast ballots.

The incumbent Congress party-led coalition and parties led by the Hindu nationalist BJP are the main contenders for power.

'Most qualified'

"The Congress is the only national party with a pan-Indian presence. Our viewpoint is very clear. We have always fought for a secular, democratic and socially just country. We believe in unity in diversity," Mrs Gandhi said.

The people of India have the historic opportunity to decide the path they want the country to follow Manmohan Singh Decline of the leviathans Democracy's dance

"Manmohan Singh is a prime minister who believes in our principles. He is the most qualified man to be the prime minister again," the Congress president said.

"I appeal to the people to vote for Manmohan Singh," she said.

Mrs Gandhi's statement put to rest speculation that Congress might opt for another prime ministerial candidate.

The 78-year-old Mr Singh recently underwent heart bypass surgery, leading to some media suggestions he might not want another term.

Some party leaders had also made statements calling for Rahul Gandhi - Mrs Gandhi's MP son - to be the party's choice for prime minister.

More than 700 million can vote in the world's most populous democracy

"The people of India have the historic opportunity to decide the path they want the country to follow," Mr Singh said as the manifesto was published.

He said his government had kept 80% of the promises made in the last elections.

"The country has never seen such robust economic growth despite the decline in the last fiscal year.

"The world is in trouble, but we are the number two fastest growing country in the world after China," Mr Singh said.

The prime minister said if voted back to power with a decisive mandate, his government would introduce measures to ensure that economic growth was maintained.

The party said it would also do everything it could to protect the country's farmers, many of whom are struggling with poverty and debt.

Mr Singh also criticised the BJP, saying it was out to divide the people of India on communal lines, putting Hinduism above everything else.

The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says although Congress hopes to emerge again as the largest party, it knows it will have to form another complex coalition if it is to govern for five more years.

Although the Congress and BJP coalitions still dominate, the influence of smaller regional parties has been growing consistently over the past few years.