Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil, the UPA candidate for the presidentship, on Saturday said her nomination for the top post reflected the respect women get in India and it would encourage the fairer sex.
Soon after her arrival in the Capital on Saturday morning, she met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her 10-Janpath residence and discussed matters related to the Presidential election.
"My candidature for the top post is a big step for women. I am very happy to be selected as the UPA candidate. This shows that India has a lot of respect for women," the 72-year- old Patil told reporters after her arrival at the airport from Jaipur on Saturday morning.
She said her candidature would "inspire" other women and help in their empowerment.
"(But) empowerment will not come automatically. They will have to work for it," Patil said as curious passengers made a beeline to catch of glimpse of a possible first woman president of the country.
Pratibha Devisingh Patil : (born December 19, 1934) is an Indian Congress (I) politician, and the 16th Governor of the Rajasthan state.
She has served as the deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha (India's upper house of parliament) and as a Member of Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra from 1962 to 1985.
Pratibha Patil is Rajasthan's first female governor, and also currently the only female state governor in India.
She is the candidate of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Indian left for the Indian Presidential Election to be held on 19th July 2007.
* India has had to wait for a long time to get a woman President, the women of the country are happy that they are finally getting their place in the sun.
* Manmohan Singh played a major role in choosing candidate agreeable to the Left parties.
She has served as the deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha (India's upper house of parliament) and as a Member of Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra from 1962 to 1985.
Pratibha Patil is Rajasthan's first female governor, and also currently the only female state governor in India.
She is the candidate of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Indian left for the Indian Presidential Election to be held on 19th July 2007.
* India has had to wait for a long time to get a woman President, the women of the country are happy that they are finally getting their place in the sun.
* Manmohan Singh played a major role in choosing candidate agreeable to the Left parties.
