Hailing as "extraordinary" Barack Obama's win in the US Presidential election, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he looked forward to working with him to realise the "enormous" potential for bilateral cooperation.

"Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world," he said in a congratulatory message to the Democrat leader, the first African-American set to become US President.

Observing that the people of both countries were bound by their shared commitment to freedom, pluralism, individual rights and democracy, Singh said "these ideas provided a solid bedrock for friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries".

"We have strong ties between our people and I look forward to working with you to realise the enormous potential for cooperation that exists between India and the US," he said.

Singh also pointed out that India and the US working together to address the global issues and challenges would be an important factor for world peace, stability and progress.

"I hope you will find an opportunity to visit India soon. A warm welcome awaits you," the Prime Minister said conveying his best wishes to him for success in office and personal well being.

Hail Obama

Also, Obama's victory evoked cheers among all political parties, including the Congress, the BJP and the Left.

Obama's victory as the 44th President of the US was hailed as "historic" by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is also the UPA Chairperson.

Similar was the reaction of the CPI, while the main Opposition BJP said it looked forward for his "illustrious tenure and warm relations with India".

The Congress, which heads the government at the Centre, expressed confidence that the Indo-US ties, which are on a "sure and even keel", will grow under the leadership of Obama, who becomes the first African-American President of the US.

"Obama represents youthful energy, exuberant dynamism and a forward looking progressive mindset which is also the spirit animating India," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.

Apparently with the Indo-US nuclear deal on his mind, Singhvi said the bedrock and foundation of bilateral ties has been so strengthened by the UPA and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that relations are on a sure and even keel.

"These relations are therefore not dependent on the personality or political affiliation of any US president," he said.

The BJP said it is committed for all cooperation and believes that the new American President will pursue a relation of equality between the two large democracies in the world -- India and the US.

"We look forward to an illustrious tenure and hope that he will fulfill his election promise of a warm relations with India," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

NCP spokesman D P Tripathi termed Obama's win as "historic" and said it began a new chapter in the White House. "This is a great historic occasion as an African American man enters the White House," he said.

Maintaining that the Bush administration had been "belligerent" in its approach towards the developing countries, CPI national secretary D Raja said he hoped that the new president would make a departure from Bush's policy, especially those concerning peace and development.

"We hope he can really bring about a changes in the US policies towards the developing world, particularly in West and South Asia," Raja said.