Government employees give rousing welcome to Karunanidhi

Chennai, May 13 (UNI) Government employees gave a rousing welcome to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi when he arrived at State Secretariat here to assume office after the swearing-in ceremony.

A large number of Secretariat Staff, including women, showered petals as the octagenarian leader entered the office as Chief Minister for the record fifth time.

Giving vent to their anger on the previous AIADMK regime, which resorted to en mass dismissal of employees after they struck work in 2002 demanding restoration of benefits, various Government employees unions celebrated the victory of the DMK in the election by bursting crackers and distributing sweets in the vicinity of the Secretariat.

A bevy of senior IAS officers greeted the Chief Minister with bouquets at his chamber. Thirty other Ministers, who were sworn in along with Mr Karunanidhi, also assumed office, amid greetings from their family members and party functionaries.

Party cadres from across the State virtually swarmed the Secretariat, giving a tough time to security personnel.

UNI AKN VD HT1646