Pratibha Patil dismisses allegations against her as baseless

Guwahati, July 13 (UNI) UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil today reiterated that the allegations of corruption against her were ''baseless and motivated''.

''The allegations against me are totally baseless. These are aimed at maligning my image,'' Ms Patil said while addressing legislators of the Congress and its allies in the North East at a campaign meeting here.

However, the former Rajasthan Governor did not name anybody.

''I have been serving the country with utmost sincerity and will continue to do so in the future,'' she said.

Seeking support for the July 19 Presidentialpoll, Ms Patil said, ''If you help me, I will be the President of the world's largest democracy. Being the first woman President is itself a matter of pride.'' She also referred to the Asom connection of former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Showering praises on UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi she said, ''Ms Gandhi is helping the cause of women empowerment in the country in a big way and the selection of a woman candidate for the highest constitutional post itself speaks volumes about it.'' Ms Patil was accompanied by Union Ministers Oscar Fernandes and Pritiviraj Chauhan, Congress observers Digvijay Singh and Chandan Bagchi and AICC spokesperson Jayanati Natarajan.

The meeting was attended by most of the legislators of Congress and its allies in the northeastern states. The Chief Ministers of Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were present, besides the host state -- Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Ms Patil also met the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) leaders. The AUDF, a stout rival of the Congress in the state, had announced unconditional support to the UPA candidate.

Earlier, BJP leader and former Union Minister Arun Shourie had visited the state to drum up support for NDA-backed independent nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. He had met the state legislators of the party.

Mr Shourie had also held informal talks with the main Opposition party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) chief Brindabon Goswami and few independent legislators from the state.

The AGP, with 24 MLAs, two Lok Sabha members and one member in the Rajya Sabha, is yet to announce its support to either of the candidates.

UNI