IndiaPost.com - UPA-Left sets in motion Patil's nomination for Prez poll

NEW DELHI: The UPA-Left set in motion the formal process of nominating Pratibha Patil for the Presidential election with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi endorsing her nomination. Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, was the first to propose the candidature of the Rajasthan Governor.

She signed the nomination papers of Patil in the presence of Union Ministers P R Dasmunsi and Prithviraj Chavan. Patil's nomination was proposed by Gandhi, a day after the race to elect the country's next President took intriguing turns with the Third Front springing a surprise by favoring a second term for incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam.

Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil was chosen as UPA-Left nominee for Presidential polls after a process of elimination of a number of Congress leaders and a chance suggestion by Left leaders. In the noon meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Left leaders CPI (M)'s Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury and CPI's A B Bardhan and D Raja stuck to their opposition to Congress' first choice Shivraj Patil while they insisted on Pranab Mukherjee.

After that a query about Arjun Singh and Motilal Vora from the Left leaders elicited a reply from the Congress side that both were not keeping good health, sources said. The candidature of Karan Singh was also eliminated after which one of the Left leaders suggested "why not a woman candidate." The Prime Minister immediately caught on to the suggestion and put forth the name of the Rajasthan Governor.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also concurred with the suggestion and it was decided that the UPA allies will be consulted on this, the sources said. Bardhan, who has for a long time worked in Nagpur in Maharashtra, endorsed her name saying that she has an illustrious political career and would be a good choice.

After that, telephone lines worked vigorously and Pratibha Patil was contacted in Mount Abu and her nod was secured. UPA leaders including DMK chief M Karunanidhi was also consulted and they immediately gave the consent. A formal announcement was made at a joint meeting of the UPA and Left parties at the Prime Minister's residence.