NEW DELHI, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, president of India's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party was on Friday sworn in as chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said.

Governor of Tamil Nadu Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy to 68-year-old Stalin during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan (Governor's house) in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

"Today morning M K Stalin was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, along with 33 members of his cabinet," a local government official said. "Stalin will hold a number of other portfolios, including those relating to administrative and police services, special programmes and the welfare of differently-abled persons with himself."

This will be the first stint for Stalin as chief minister. He led his party to a huge victory in the recently held local elections.

Officials said the oath ceremony was held in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol.

Stalin takes charge at a time when Tamil Nadu is battling to contain the severe second COVID-19 wave.

On Thursday the state recorded over 23,000 new infections and 167 related deaths.

The DMK, which fought the elections in alliance with the Congress party, won 159 out of 234 seats in the state. The AIADMK, which was in power, had allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and secured only 75 seats. Enditem

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