Ker CM congratulates PM Modi on assuming office again

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday congratulated Narendra Modi on assuming the office of the Prime Minister for the second time. In a message to Modi, he said the Centre and states needed to cooperate and move forward for ensuring inclusive development of all, a press release from the Chief Minister's office said here.

Modi, who led the NDA to a massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, was sworn in Prime Minister for a second term Thursday. Other union ministers were also sworn in along with him. Vijayan also praised Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, who hails from Kerala, on him assuming office Friday.

The veteran CPI-M leader expressed hope Muraleedharan would extend his unstinted cooperation to the "collective efforts" in getting the state's requirements from the Centre. The senior Kerala BJP leader, elected to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, is also MoS, Parliamentary Affairs.

Vijayan had skipped the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and his ministers Thursday citing pre-occupation with party-related matters in the state.