News stories - India's quest for Prime Minister
 
The crowds that amassed outside Sonia Gandhi's home in Delhi erupted into cheers of 'bring back Sonia Gandhi' when the news filtered through that all the members of an important party committee have resigned. They're thought to have given up their posts last night after Mrs Gandhi's shock announcement that she won't be the next prime minister.

The party officials and some of Congress's MPs will meet Mrs Gandhi shortly. But she's been adamant that hers is a final decision -- she will not change her mind. Sonia Gandhi has the authority to choose the next leader of the party. Her nominee, who is thought to be the former finance minister Manmohan Singh, will also become prime minister.

If this last-ditch attempt to persuade Mrs Gandhi to reconsider fails, the next Congress leader will meet the president with proof of his parliamentary backing before taking the prime ministerial oath of office.
 
- vocabulary:
amassed: gathered or met in great numbers
erupted into cheers: suddenly and explosively started shouting
resigned: gave up their jobs
shock: surprising in an upsetting and negative way


adamant: determined not to change one's mind

authority: power and responsibility
nominee: the person who is chosen or appointed

 

last-ditch: final or desperate


oath of office: official promise to serve in a job, usually in politics
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