TN Governor hosts tea party for newly sworn in DMK ministers

Chennai, May 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said he took immense pride that his ministry had assumed office on a day coinciding with the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

He was speaking at a tea party hosted by the Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala for the members of the newly sworn-in DMK Ministry.

Thirty ministers of the newly formed DMK government including Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin were present on the occasion.

Stating that Buddhism was born in India, but had stayed in China, he exhorted his colleagues to imbibe the qualities and ideals of Buddhism and dedicate themselves to serve the people better.

Mr Karunanidhi also recalled his ''one line speech'' made at Vellore during electioneering that ''we are here at the Vellore fort today and within few days from now, we will meet at Fort St George (where the secretariat is located). The DMK leader had to end his campaign with this single line as there was just a minute left for the deadline at 2200 hrs.

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