Pratibha campaigns for Presidential election in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, July 10 (UNI) UPA-left Presidential nominee Ms Pratibha Patil here today appealed MLAs and MPs across the country to support her in the July 19 elections for the top post.

Ms Patil, who arrived here from Ranchi, addressed the MPs and the Congress MLAs, besides the MLAs from Jharkhand Mukti Morach, the Orissa Gana Parishad, the CPI and CPI(M) stating that July 19 would create a new chapter in the Indian history.

She said the country would achieve economic progress ouly when the benefit of the development programmes would reach the masses.

Ms Patil said her aim and objective would be to wipe out hunger and poverty from the country.

She stated she had come to the land of Kalinga, where the Emperor Ashoka had spread the message of brotherhood to the world.

The OGP leader Arun Dey said the Presidential election was a foregone conclusion, adding the nation was sure of Ms Patil's victory.

CPI leader Narayan Reddy and CPM Leader Laxman Munda said her victory would strengthen the Parliamentary democracy.

Minister of State attached to Prime Minister officer Prithivraj Chouhan, AICC Spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan, Union Minister of state for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahoo also attended the meeting.

UNI