CHENNAI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi congratulated M. Karunanidhi on his assumption of the post of Chief Minister of the State.

In his letter, Dr. Singh said he looked forward to a close and effective partnership between the Centre and State Government to accelerate the pace of economic and social development in Tamil Nadu.

He also felicitated him for the overwhelming electoral triumph of the Democratic Progressive Alliance under his leadership.

Expressing his inability to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government due to prior public engagements in New Delhi, Dr. Singh said he had asked his senior colleague Pranab Mukherjee to represent the Union Government on the occasion.

Sonia Gandhi in her message attributed the victory of DPA in the Assembly elections to Karunanidhi's leadership, vision and his concern for the people of the State. She was confident that the term of his Government would be marked by all round progress, with special consideration for the most needy.

The former Bharatiya Janata Party president, L.K. Advani, congratulated Mr. Karunanidhi over telephone for the DPA victory, and conveyed his party's good wishes.

Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss commended the Chief Minister for his announcements on the supply of rice at Rs. 2 a kg, waiving of cooperative farm loans and supply of eggs with noon meals. In a statement, Dr. Ramadoss said Mr. Karunanidhi's announcement immediately after assuming charge showed his commitment to implementing his promises. The announcement would increase people's trust in the new Government.

State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) N. Varadarajan, who welcomed the Chief Minister's announcements, said that it was good beginning for the new Government. Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangham general secretary V. Duraimanickam thanked the State Government for writing off crop loans due to be paid to cooperativesby farmers.

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