Karunanidhi, 30 Ministers take oath in TN

Chennai, May 13 (UNI) A 31-member DMK Ministry today took oath in Tamil Nadu at an impressive function with party patriarch M Karunanidhi assuming office as Chief Minister of the state for a record fifth time.

Governor Surjit Singh Baranala administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Karunanidhi and his Cabinet colleagues as thousands of partymen witnessed the ceremony, held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here this morning.

Minutes after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Karunanidhi, fulfilling his election promise, signed Government Orders providing rice at Rs two per kg through public distribution system, waiver of farmers' cooperative loans and provision of two eggs per week to children covered under the noon meal scheme.

He signed all the three official files in the presence of the leaders of his alliance parties, amid loud cheers from thousands of party cadre who had gathered at the stadium.

A host of dignitaries, including Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, Jaipal Reddy, Mani Shankar Aiyer, E V K S Elangovan, G K Vasan, alliance party leaders TNCC President M Krishnasamy, PMK Founder-Leader S Ramadoss, CPI(M) State Secretary N Varadarajan and CPI State Secretary D Pandian were present.

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