Cameron to meet PM during his visit to India

London, Aug 29: Tory leader David Cameron is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his tour to India next month.

His visit comes as the Conservative Party finds itself within striking distance of replacing Labour Government at the next general election with the party's rating soaring to 41 per cent against Labour's 31 per cent.

Last week, Mr Cameron met Mr Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

This week Shadow Chancellor George Osborne travels to Japan to meet Shinzo Abe, expected to be the next Japanese Prime Minister, and next week Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne will travel together to India to meet the Prime Minister.

His meeting with Dr Singh is being seen as a possible kick-start to a warm relationship with India, the kind Tories had with the country during John Major's tenure and may be a personal understanding between Mr Cameron and Dr Singh like the personal friendship that had developed between Ms Margaret Thatcher and late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Mr Cameron has further boosted his party's chances by persuading John McCain, a frontrunner in the race to be the next American President, to address the Conservatives' annual gathering in Bournemouth next month.

Mr McCain, a war hero who has emerged as a leading Republican candidate to replace President Bush, will speak on the opening day of the conference.

Mr McCain's acceptance to address the Tory conference is seen as a sign that Cameron's Conservatives are regarded abroad as candidates for power. The leadership is building contacts with overseas governments.

UNI