— Photo: PTI

A file picture shows Pratibha Patil with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi. Ms. Patil is UPA-Left combine's Presidential candidate. Mr. Shekhawat might contest as an independent candidate for the highest post of the country.

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Devisingh Patil, 72, who was nominated on Thursday by the United Progressive Alliance as its candidate for the 13th Presidential elections, becomes the first woman to run for the country's presidency on behalf of any ruling political combine.

In the 2002 presidential elections, Captain Lakshmi Sahgal was fielded by the Left parties.

She polled 1,07,366 votes while the nominee of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, secured 9,22,884 votes.

In the coming presidential polls, Ms. Patil is likely to take on Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, being fielded as an independent candidate by the Opposition NDA combine.

In Rajasthan, Ms. Patil created history when she took oath on November 8, 2004 as the first woman Governor. In fact, she is the only woman Governor in the country now.

A senior Congress leader from Maharashtra, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly five times between 1962 and 1985, and once each to the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. She was also president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. From 1986 to 1988, Ms. Patil served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

A Rajput from Maharashtra, Ms. Patil is married to Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat from Rajasthan. She is a Master in Arts and has a degree in law. She played a lead role in setting up educational institutes for the poor in Maharashtra. She also set up an industrial training school for the visually impaired, besides organising vocational classes for poor and needy women.

A firm believer in women's causes and a tireless champion of spreading education among girls, Ms. Patil believes that education among women will only enhance their respect and generate awareness for social causes.

As one who always stands for a better deal for women — she says this is essential for the progress of the nation — Ms. Patil has played an active role in checking evils such as female foeticide and dowry.

In speeches at universities, colleges and schools in Rajasthan over the past three years, she has spoken about these causes in an attempt to generate awareness among students so that they play constructive and positive roles in shaping the future of the country.

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