The Forward Bloc along with the other Left parties had enthusiastically supported Pratibha Patil’s candidature for the President’s post, but her maiden address to the nation has “disappointed” the party.

The Forward Bloc is unhappy with Patil for not mentioning Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s name while she referred to contributions made by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Sarojini Naidu to the freedom struggle.

The party has now shot off a letter to the President saying “our freedom struggle cannot be monopolised by only one trend of political thoughts and process” and sought her response on the matter.

“...We have experienced a shocking disappointment while going through your reference to the great contribution to our freedom struggle made by our national leaders,” the letter said. “You have rightfully mentioned the names of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others. But we are sorry to note that you have failed to mention the name of...Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,” it adds.