Pratibha patil emerges as frontrunner for Prez elections

NEW DELHI: Pratibha Patil, Governor of Rajasthan, emerged as a surprise UPA frontrunner for the post of President after the Left parties persisted with their opposition to Congress party's first choice Shivraj Patil.

Patil's name began doing the rounds in political circles after the Left parties reportedly maintained that they would not support the Union Home Minister or another Congress leader Dr Karan Singh.

The 72-year-old former Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra minister has been Governor of Rajasthan for nearly three years.