Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the assembly election results in five states was a victory for the United Progressive Alliance coalition and secular forces in the country.
"This election is a victory for secular forces and this is victory for the United Progressive Alliance," a smiling Dr Singh said in New Delhi as poll results indicated a win for Congress in Assam and coalition partners Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Left in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and West Bengal respectively.
He said he has already congratulated Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Assam, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Tarun Gogoi, and DMK chief M Karunanidhi for the election victory.
The prime minister said he will also congratulate Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for her "magnificient and glorious victory" in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha byelection.