Vaithilingam led Congress Ministry installed in Puducherry

Puducherry, Sep 4 (UNI) A new Congress Ministry in the Union Territory of Puducherry headed by V Vaithilingam was sworn-in today.

Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Vaithilingam and his council of ministers at a function at the Rajnivas here.

All the ministers took oath in the name of god.

Mr Malladi Krishna Rao from Yanam took the oath in Telugu, his mother tongue, while Mr Valsaraj took it in English. All others took the oath in Tamil.

Prior to the swearing-in, Puducherry Chief Secretary (incharge) Ms Naini Jayaseelan read out the notification on the appointment of Chief Minister and his council of ministers by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

AICC general secretary Arun Kumar, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy, PMK parliamentary party leader Prof Ramadass, Assembly speaker R Radhakrishnan, leaders of various political parties, former Chief Ministers, Legislators and senior officials of the territorial administration, were among those who attended the swearing-in function.

Immediately, after assuming the office Mr Vaithilingam and his cabinet collegues rushed to Pradesh Congress Committee office where they addressed the party workers and others, who gathered and accepted their reception.

(Ed: pick up suitably from earlier series) UNI PAB ROY LS DS1207