Pratibha Patil emerges front-runner for Presidentship

New Delhi, June 14: Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil today emerged as the front-runner among the candidates of the UPA and the Left parties for the country's Presidentship.

A consensus on her name is understood to have been reached this evening after several rounds of talks between leaders of the UPA and the Left parties.

The leaders of the two groupings are meeting here again this evening after which they are most likely to announce their candidate for the Presidentship.

When contacted by sources, Mrs Patil declined to comment on reports that she might be the country's next President. She said she was right now travelling from Mount Abu to Jaipur.

Sources told sources that after an hour-long discussion between the UPA and the Left leadership at the PM's 7 Race Course Raod official residence, Ms Patil emerged as the" most acceptable name for the post of the President." Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been requested to persuade Ms Patil.

On the Left side strong reservations were expressed over the names of Mr Shivraj Patil and Dr Karan Singh as Presidential candidates.

The name of a woman candidate emerged after many names were rejected.

Then Left leaders are learnt to have suggested" why not a woman candidate?" The whole exercise to arrive at a consensus started this afternoon when Left leaders led by Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan held a long meeting with the UPA leadership at 7 Race course Raod.

DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was present at the discussion.

UNI