Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072752710400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Assembly congratulates Pratibha Patil

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Thursday congratulated Pratibha Patil on her election to the post of President.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said her victory was the victory of secularist India. It was also significant since a woman had now been elected to the highest office in the country. He said States such as Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura could take pride in the fact that they had given all their votes to Ms. Patil.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said her victory would lift India’s renown as the world’s biggest democracy. He too described the victory as the victory of secularist India and added that, he was, however, sorry that Kerala had invalidated five of its votes.