UPA-Left favour woman candidate for Presidentship

New Delhi, June 14: The Congress leadership and the Left parties appear to have resolved their differences over their candidate for Presidentship with both of them agreeing to consider nominating a woman for the country's top constitutional office.

The breakthrough in their negotiations came at a meeting top Left leaders had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was also present at the meeting.

According to political sources, the two sides have agreed not to field Home Minister Shivraj Patil or Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in the race for the coveted post.

It is reliably learnt that they reached a consensus on fielding a woman candidate. In this connection, the Left leaders are understood to have discussed some names with Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi, including those of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil and noted Gandhian and social activist Nirmala Deshpande.

A top Left leader told UNI that the name of the woman candidate would most likely be announced after another meeting between leaders of the UPA and the Left parties at the Prime Minister's residence at 1900 hrs this evening.

''It is going to be the surprise name of a lady for the Presidentship,'' the leader, who preferred anonymity, said.

UNI