India receives her first woman president

July 21 : In a highly controversial presidential poll ever Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil turned out to be victorious defeating her NDA backed opponent Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat by 3,06,810 votes. She bagged 2,931 votes against the 1,449 of opponent Bhairon Singh.

The result of the poll has been according to the speculations in the air. Main reason behind the victory with large number of votes is that Mrs. picked up the votes more than expected from BJP ruled states such as Gujrat, Andhra pradesh.

Shiv sena support from her home state laid the path for her victory. Since counting began by election commission in parliament building in the morning, news of Mrs Patil leading in the polls were upcoming.

Mrs. Pratibha bagged 223 votes from her home state and the same number from Andhra pradesh while Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat could manage to get only two votes from BJP members. In Maharashtra he secured 58 votes, each vote having a value of 175.

From congress-ruled Assam Mrs. Patil got 92 votes leaving only 20 for her competitor.

In Arunachal too the wind blew in favour of Mrs. Patil gaining 58 votes. While Mr. Shekhawat got just one vote from the state.

Mrs. Patil a lawyer by profession joined politics in 1962 when she was elected a member of Maharashtra legislative assembly from Jalgaon district.

Indira loyalist also held the post of deputy chairperson of the Rajya sabha from 1986 to 1988. She remained the member of Lok Sabha since 1991 till 1996.

She also earned the reputation of being first woman governor of Rajasthan in 2004.

Since Mrs. Patil’s nomination as the candidate of UPA & Left for the election of the highest constitutional post she daily made it to the headlines in newspapers due to various controversial matters be it shielding her brother on murder charge or Pratibha women co-operative bank issue or Purdah remarks or sugar factory matter. Though all the charges were denied by congress party.

Current victory of Mrs.Pratibha seems to be the reward by congress for the loyalty she maintained during tough times of congress. In 1977 when congress(I)-split took place with big leaders deserting Indira Gandh, Mrs. Patil held her commitment to Congress(I).

Mrs. Patil will be sworn as President on 25 th day of the month.