Cabinet recognises TN CM's role in Pratibha's victory

Chennai, July 23 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Cabinet today congratulated and conveyed its wishes to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for being instrumental in electing India's first woman President, Ms Pratibha Patil.

The cabinet which met here this morning, noted that Mr Karunanidhi, right from the beginning, showed interest in selecting a woman nominee to hold the high office in the country.

After visiting Delhi, the DMK leader, after holding extensive talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, played a crucial role in evolving a consensus between the Congress and the Left parties in deciding on Ms Patil's candidature, the Cabinet said.

In support of her candidature, Mr Karunanidhi had organised an ''all women rally'' in the city, for the first time in the country and made Ms Patil take part in the rally. The cabinet congratulated Mr Karunanidhi for helping Ms Patil to win the Presidential election with a margin of more than three lakh votes.

UNI