Great victory for Mamata Banerjee: Pranab Mukherjee

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday congratulated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for winning the Bhowanipore Assembly seat and described it as a "great victory".

Her victory by over 54,000 votes in the by-election vindicates the initiatives she has taken as Chief Minister after assumption of office on May 20 this year, Mukherjee said.

"I congratulate her. It is a victory of the steps she has taken as Chief Minister," Mukherjee told reporters outside his south Kolkata residence.

Mamata Banerjee, a former Union minister, gave up her Kolkata South Lok Sabha seat to be sworn in as Chief Minister, marking a change of guard after 34 years of uninterrupted Left Front rule in the state.