evidence: The curtains came down on the "Vajpayee years" with a dramatic shift of power in 2004. The ruling BJP confidently advanced the general elections to capitalise on the popularity of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a perceived "feel good factor" based on the government’s economic achievements through a mega "India Shining" campaign. The Congress countered with a pitch promising to protect the interests of the common man— the ‘aam aadmi.’ Pollsters predicted a win for the BJP-led NDA but the final verdict defied their electoral calculations, surprising both the victor and the vanquished. [...] After much speculation and deliberations, Sonia Gandhi declined the top post, citing an "inner voice." On May 22, 2004, Manmohan Singh, an Oxford-educated economist and the architect of major economic reforms, became the first Sikh Prime Minister of India. Thus began the era of the UPA. [...] Once in power, the Congress government established a steady, if not remarkable, record of governance. The Congress benefited from a period of sustained economic growth, amidst a burgeoning global financial crisis. Pro-people legislations such as the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) Act were passed during this time as well.