Pratibha Patil to visit Maharashtra on July 18

Mumbai, July 10 (UNI) UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil will visit her home state Maharashtra on July 18 as part of her campaign, a day before the voting for the high office takes places.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Prabha Rau said Ms Patil will be in Mumbai on July 18. ''We are yet to receive her detailed programme. I think her visit to Mumbai will not be day long. She will cover Gujarat and Goa also,'' the MPCC president informed.

Ms Patil was expected to come down to Mumbai on July 9, but the visit was postponed. The MPCC chief rejected media reports that the State Congress was not enthusiastic to welcome her.

Ms Rau also said the party has no objection if the Presidential candidate wishes to call on Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. ''The Presidential election is above party politics,'' she added.

She said since the Monsoon session of the State Legislature begins on July 16, all the MLAs will be in the city during Ms Patil's visit.

''She may meet the MLAs at Vidhan Bhavan. When we get her detailed programme, there is a plan to felicitate her in the party office near the Vidhan Bhavan,'' she said.

UNI