India conducted national general elections from mid-April to mid-May 2009 in five phases. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance coalition along with support from many parties won more than 300 seats in the 543-member Lower House of Parliament and consequently formed a new government. This is the second successive win for the UPA government. A 79-member ministerial cabinet was formed under the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Most of the ministers in the earlier cabinet have been retained while as many as twenty young members have been brought in. The BJP-led NDA has become the main opposition, while the Left and smaller parties will also be part of the opposition group. Mr A K Antony assumed the charge of Defence Minister for the second time, while Mr M M Pallam Raju remained Minister of State for Defence. Both ministers have emphasized on need fortransparency in defence acquisitions and implementation of further reforms in the defence sector. Soon after Mr Antony took charge, RFPs for two major defence acquisitions were announced, and it is reported that another three or four large programmes will also be launched in near future. On the other hand, a major scandal involving the purchase of land forces weapons has erupted. The role of the former chief of Ordnance Factories Board is being probed, and the MoD has blacklisted seven companies, including Israel Military Industry.
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