Pratibha not first choice of UPA : BJP

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Unimpressed by the way UPA propelled the name of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as its Presidential nominee, the BJP today said she was not the first choice.

Asked for his reaction BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the Congress first wanted External Affairs Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil and there were several other names like Dr Karan Singh, N D Tiwari and Motilal Vora as well.

The Congress accepted Mrs Patil's name as a ''last resort'' when they were unable to push through the candidatures of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's nominees which were unacceptable to the UPA allies.

Asked if the choice of a woman for the top constitutional job of the country, Mr Malhotra said it was wrong to think in those terms because the First Citizen stands above all considerations of gender, region, religion and caste.

UNI