Click to play videoNew Delhi: Pratibha Patil, who on Thursday was selected as the UPA’s candidate for the Presidential, has left behind her better-known and more senior colleagues in the Congress.
The Congress proposed the names of Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and former minister Karan Singh but they but they were rejected Left parties.
When UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi proposed Patil’s name it was a surprise but there were no complaints in the Congress. Suddenly everybody was smiling and even heavyweight male contenders accepted Patil’s nomination gracefully.
“The UPA-Left meeting appeals to all political parties and members of the electoral college to extend support to elect her as the first woman President of India,” said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukhjerjee, who was once the Congress’ leading Presidential nominee and had Left support too.
The Congress had kept Patil’s name almost a secret. Sonia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were aware that big names were not finding acceptance across the board. Shivraj Patil had run into trouble because the Left said he lacked stature, Congress wasn't sure if Mayawati would approve of a Dalit leader like Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mukherjee was indispensable to the party. Pratibha Patil benefited from a process of elimination.
In the end Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who mediated between the Left and the UPA, didn't have to try very hard. Left leaders who had been sulking for not having been consulted were told about Patil this morning.
“The proposal for a woman President came for the UPA today. We discussed it and decided to extend her support,” said CPM leader Sitaram Yechury.
The allies knew they had a sure-shot winner in a politically correct choice. As Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav phrased it: “India is set to get a woman President. We appeal to all political parties to withdraw her candidate and support her.”
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