The governor of the Indian state of Rajasthan, Pratibha Patil, has been named as a presidential candidate by India’s Congress-led ruling coalition.
She could become the first woman to occupy the mostly ceremonial position.
Mrs Patil emerged as a surprise, last-minute candidate after the left parties persisted with their opposition to the Congress party’s first choice.
Mrs Patil, 72, is a former deputy speaker of the upper house of India’s parliament, the Rajya Sabha.
She has been governor of Rajasthan for nearly three years.
– BBC (June 14, 2007)
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