Great victory for women: TN CM

Chennai, July 21 (UNI) DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi tonight termed the triumph of Ms Prathiba Patil in the Presidential elections as great victory for women.

When a newsperson was asked to comment on four AIADMK MLAs involved in cross voting, Mr Karunanidhi replied only the party leader had to answer the query.

Asked whether the AIADMK Party MLAs' cross-voting was because of dislike for the party leadership, Mr Karunanidhi said 'no comments.' He also said the DMK would back Mr Hamid Ansari, the UPA candiate for the Vice-President's post.

Mr Karunanidhi said he would be leaving for New Delhi on July 24 to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Ms Patil who will be India's first woman President.

UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh telephonically congratulated him and thanked him for his support to Ms Patil.

UNI