The city of New Delhi

Delhi joins the city of Hamilton in Canada as the only bidders for the event.

Both cities will present their applications in London on 30 May and the Commonwealth Games Federation will make its choice in Jamaica in November.

Indian Olympic official Randhir Singh, who will lead India's presentation in London along with sports minister Vikram Varma, said Delhi was the favourite after Singapore withdrew its bid as a mark of Asian solidarity with India.

"Member-nations have told me they want the Games to be moved around instead of them being hosted usually in Australia, England or Canada," Singh said.

"Asia deserves to host the Games."

The Commonwealth Games have been hosted in Asia just once, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Canada held the 1994 event in Victoria, England's Manchester hosted it last year, while the 2006 edition will be held in Melbourne, Australia.

"India has never hosted the Commonwealth Games which will work in our favour because Canada has held it three times," said Singh.

India is the largest democracy in the world Indian Olympic official Randhir Singh

"India is the largest democracy in the world, besides being a pillar of the Commonwealth.

"We have a better infrastructure in New Delhi than Manchester did, we are not lacking in any way. And by 2010 it will be even better."

India will see its path cleared, Singh added, if Canada are awarded the Winter Olympics of 2010, since two major Games are unlikely to be held in one country in the same year.

A decision on the Winter Olympics will be made in July.

India has successfully hosted two Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 - both in Delhi - as well as Cricket World Cups in 1987 and 1996.

Commonwealth officials will be invited to the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in the southern city of Hyderabad in October-November, to judge India's ability to host a major sporting event, Singh said.

Last year, Delhi lost the bid to host the 2006 Asian Games which were eventually awarded to Doha, Qatar.