Ms Patil to launch campaign in TN on July 1

Chennai, Jun 16 (UNI) Ms Pratibha Patil, UPA-Left parties' nominee for the Presidentship, will launch her campaign in Tamil Nadu by taking part in ''all women rally'', organised by the DMK to mobilise support for her unanimous election on July 1.

When Ms Patil telephoned to thank him for all the efforts he had taken, the DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi invited her to take part in the rally and she happily accepted the invitation , an official release here said.

Ms Patil, telephoned Mr Karunanidhi this afternoon and conveyed her profound thanks for all the efforts he had taken during his stay in Delhi (for evolving a consensus on selecting the Presidential candidate), the release said.

Mr Karunanidhi suggested that she could take part in the rally on July 1 and launch her campaign on that day itself by meeting the MPs and MLAs in the state.

Meanwhile, the DMK had convened an all party women's wings meeting on June 20 to discuss about the rally.

Party General Secretary S B Sarguna Pandian, in a statement here said that the meeting would be held at DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam and requested leaders of women wings of all the parties to take part in the meet.

Mr Karunanidhi had last night said that the rally was to celebrate the selection of a woman candidate for Presidentship in 60 years of Indian Independence and mobilise support to ensure that Ms Patil was elected uncontested.

UNI