Pratibha Patil postpones visit to Gujarat

Ahmedabad, July 9 (UNI) UPA-Left Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil has postponed her visit to the city, scheduled for today, following the death of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar in New Delhi yesterday, Congress sources said.

Ms Patil was to address a meeting of the party MPs and MLAs here to gain support for her candidature in the Presidential elections.

She will now visit Gujarat on a later date, which is yet to be decided, Arjun Modhwadia, Leader of the Opposition in State assembly, told UNI today.

Yesterday, BJP leaders L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj were here to garner support for NDA-backed independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The meeting of BJP MPs and MLAs in Gandhinagar was meant primarily to prevent any cross-voting in the wake of dissident activity, BJP sources said, adding dissident leader Keshubhai Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Kashiram Rana, a Lok Sabha MP, and a dozen MLAs did not attend the meeting.

UNI