PM visits Sonia; Greets her, Buddhadeb, Karunanidhi

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) Describing the poll results as a ''magnificent victory for secular forces,'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated Congress President Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and DMK President M Karunanidhi.

Besides speaking to the three leaders on phone, Dr Singh visited the 10 Janpath residence of Ms Gandhi to personally greet her.

The Prime Minister offered ''heartiest congratulations'' to them, a PMO spokesman said.

''It is a magnificent victory for secular forces,'' Dr Singh said.

While Ms Gandhi has registered a resounding victory in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha bypoll, her Congress party appeared set to retain power in Asom and Pondicherry, besides belying the exit poll prediction of a mauling of the UDF in Kerala at the hands of the LDF.

In West Bengal, the CPI(M)-led Left is all set to form a new government for the seventh time in a row.

UNI SN PA RS1904