Manmohan Singh Date:   Monday , November 01, 1999 His successor, P. Chidambaram expanded on his initiatives, firmly laying a foundation for global business. Though now widely recognized as channeling India's productive energy in the right direction, Singh was, at the outset, criticized for opening up the Indian economy. Opponents claimed that he had put the nationally revered Swadeshi movement in the doghouse. A senior member of The Congress Party, Singh entered politics as its candidate from South Delhi in the last elections.