New Delhi: Manmohan Singh, appointed as Prime Minister today (May 19, 2004) by President A P J Abdul Kalam, is likely to be sworn in on Saturday (May 22), official sources said today.

The couple of days' delay in the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister was due to the non-finalisation of the composition of the Union Cabinet which would begin tomorrow, Congress sources said.

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The day after being the 13th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Congress leaders are most likely to settle for May 22 for the swearing-in ceremony as Congress president Sonia Gandhi, along with senior party leaders, would be visiting Sriperambudur, where he was killed, the sources added.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is gearing itself for the occasion and all necessary formalities have been completed, official sources said.

Ashoka Hall, which went through a major renovation, as well as the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan are being prepared for the function.