Indian President Pratibha Patil Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and asked him to work as care-taking head of government until a new government is formed.

Patil also dissolved the 14th Lok Sabha or lower house of parliament on the recommendation of Singh, said an official communique released by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan Presidential Palace.

Singh met with the president and submitted the resignations of the members of his council of ministers. Singh was asked to continue as the head of a caretaker government.

Patil will also invite Singh to form the next government on Tuesday.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won 263 seats out of a total of 543 seats in the general elections, only nine seats short of the 272 absolute majority required to form the government.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2009)