Manmohan Singh was on Wednesday appointed Prime Minister for a second consecutive term, for which he will be sworn-in on May 22, after the UPA coalition staked its claim to form the government with the backing of 322 MPs.

Apparently in view of the comfortable numbers the coalition has in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the President has not asked the Prime Minister to prove his strength in the House.

"I have pleasure to appoint you the Prime Minister and request you to advise me on the names of the others to be appointed to the council of ministers. "I propose to administer the oath of office and secrecy to you on Friday, 22nd May 2009 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at a mutually convenient time," President Pratibha Patil said in her letter handed over to Singh when he called on her along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Reading out the President's letter, Singh said "you will come to know in due course of time" when asked whether MPs outside the pre-poll allies would included in the new ministry.

Text of President Pratibha Patil's letter to PM

Following is the text of the letter given by President Pratibha Patil to Manmohan Singh appointing him as the Prime Minister.

Dear Dr Manmohan Singhji,

My heartiest felicitations to you on being chosen as the Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Having regard to the fact that you head the single largest party and the largest pre-election alliance and taking note of the letters of support enabling you to command majority support of the newly constituted 15th Lok Sabha, I have the pleasure to appoint you the Prime Minister and request you to advice me as to the names of others to be appointed in the Council of Ministers.

... contd.