Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday hailed the selection of Congress leader Manmohan Singh as the prime minister.
Reacting to the former finance minister's selection as the leader of the Congress parliamentary party, Naidu hoped the process of economic reforms would be expedited under Singh's leadership.
Naidu, himself a strong advocate of reforms, termed Singh a pro-reforms leader and hoped India would make progress under his leadership.
"He is a good economist who launched reforms and carried forward the process. We welcome the election of a pro-development and pro-reforms leader," he said.
"We may have political differences but the interests of the country are above everything."
Naidu said he had spoken to Singh on telephone and congratulated him on his elevation to the top post.
After ruling Andhra Pradesh for nine years, Naidu's TDP was routed in the just-concluded assembly elections.
TDP, which was extending outside support to the previous National Democratic Alliance government, also lost its key role in national politics as it won only five parliamentary seats.
The TDP president Thursday made his first public appearance after the defeat in the elections.
{{/usCountry}}The TDP president Thursday made his first public appearance after the defeat in the elections.
{{/usCountry}}Naidu, who was confined to his house and TDP office since his party's defeat, garlanded the statue of leader Prakasham Pantulu near the assembly building on his death anniversary.