NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Pratibha Patil should not be projected as a Maharashtrian candidate. It was in this context that he intervened to correct Sonia as she was announcing her name. “Her name is Pratibha Devisingh Patil Shekhawat and not Pratibha Patil,” said the NCP chief.

Patil’s ancestors had migrated from Rajasthan to Maharashtra. She was also married in Chhoti Losal village in Sikar district of Rajasthan and her in-laws’ house is located 38 km from Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s native village of Khachariawas. Patil who has been a loyalist of Nehru-Gandhi family was the Maharashtra Congress chief when Sharad Pawar had toppled the Congress government led by Vasantdada Patil to become the Chief Minister of the state for the first time in 1979.

With the issue of Presidential nominee settled, the focus of the UPA and the Left has shifted to the Vice-President’s post. The DMK is also likely to be rewarded for its support to the Congress, with possibly a Ministerial job for Karunanidhi’s daughter and newly elected Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi who met Sonia today.

Pratibha Patil

• Born on: Dec 19, '34

• Education: MA, LLB

Political Career

• First elected MLA in '62, she remained in the Maharashtra Assembly till '85. Held several portfolios as state minister. Was also leader of the Opposition

• Rajya Sabha member from '85-'90; Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson from Nov '86-88

• Maharashtra PCC chief from '88-'90

• Elected to Lok Sabha in '91

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