Obama calls up Singh: congrats,best wishes

As Manmohan Singh prepares to take oath as the Prime Minister tomorrow,US President Barack Obama called him up this evening to congratulate him on his party’s election victory and wish him well for his second innings. Sources said both leaders promised to work in close partnership.

Obama’s call came 12 hours after he told new Indian Ambassador to US Meera Shankar that he was “looking forward to visiting New Delhi at an early date”. Shankar met him at the Oval Office when she presented her credentials to the US President. She conveyed greetings from President Pratibha Patil and the Prime Minister to the US President and First Lady Michelle Obama and said she looked forward to strengthening the Indo-US strategic partnership.

When the results were declared,Obama said the elections “upheld the values of freedom and pluralism that make India an example for us all”.