Prime Minister to give farewell address May 17

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will give a farewell address to the nation May 17 after he submits his resignation to President Pranab Mukherjee, bringing the curtains down on a decade in power, officials said.

He will submit his resignation a day after the Lok Sabha results are announced May 16.

Before he submits his resignation and that of the United Progresive Alliance-II government, the prime minister will attend his last cabinet meeting in which the members of council of ministers.

"He is likely to address the nation May 17 afternoon," a PMO official told IANS.

Manmohan Singh will continue as a caretaker prime minister till his successor takes oath of office.

The official said that Prime Minister will move out of his present 7, Race Course Road residence and go to his new residence at 3, Moti Lal Nehru Marg, after a new prime minister is sworn in.

The official said that Tuesday was the last working day of prime minister at his South Block office and the prime minister was given a standing ovation by his staff during a farewell they hosted for him at South Block.

A prime minister, who did not betray much emotion, also thanked his staff for their work. Many officials presented him bouquets.

"Prime Minister thanks staff in South Block who bid farewell to him: You have served the Nation well. God bless you," the PMO said in a tweet.

He also attended a meeting of the cabinet Tuesday.

Manmohan Singh had earlier this year announced his retirement after a decade at the helm of two successive United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments. On Jan 3 this year, Manmohan Singh addressed his final press conference, and only his third one in ten years. He announced his retirement at the press conference.- IANS