Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] 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 [Images] 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 [Images] for her "magnificient and glorious victory" in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha byelection.