Woman Presidential candidate promising beginning: Karunanidhi

New Delhi, Jun 14 (UNI) Taking pride that the UPA and the Left parties have proposed a woman nominee for the Presidenship, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said this was a promising beginning to usher in 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

Talking to newspersons at the Tamil Nadu house here after finalising the candidature of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil, he said a woman becoming the President of the country, would make a good beginning for the 33 per cent reservation for women.

''To say it in the language of religion, this is like invoking Lord Ganesha for a new beginning for 33 per cent reservation for women,'' the octogenarian dravidian leader, said.

Mr Karunanidhi, who believed to have played a crucial role in breaking the stand off between the Congress and the left party leaders in selecting the Presidential candidate said the choice of Mrs Patil was unanimous.

Asked whether the decision to field a woman candidate was his idea, he said ''I can't say this is a strategy of an individual, but a wonderful idea which came in the minds of all.'' MORE UNI