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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| First female president for India | First female president for India |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Pratibha Patil is to become India's first woman president after winning a comprehensive election victory, Indian officials say. | Pratibha Patil is to become India's first woman president after winning a comprehensive election victory, Indian officials say. |
| Mrs Patil, 72, won nearly two-thirds of votes cast in state assemblies and in India's parliament, they said. | Mrs Patil, 72, won nearly two-thirds of votes cast in state assemblies and in India's parliament, they said. |
| The former governor of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan described her win as "a victory of the people". | The former governor of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan described her win as "a victory of the people". |
| Mrs Patil's supporters say her election to the largely ceremonial role will be a boost to millions of Indian women. | Mrs Patil's supporters say her election to the largely ceremonial role will be a boost to millions of Indian women. |
| The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says that while some see her victory as an important step towards gender equality in India, many view it as only a symbolic gesture. | The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says that while some see her victory as an important step towards gender equality in India, many view it as only a symbolic gesture. |
| Millions of women in India face discrimination and poverty often linked to age-old traditions which require the parents of a bride to pay a large dowry to the family of her eventual husband. | Millions of women in India face discrimination and poverty often linked to age-old traditions which require the parents of a bride to pay a large dowry to the family of her eventual husband. |
| Women's landmark | Women's landmark |
| Mrs Patil emerged as a surprise, last-minute candidate after left-wing parties in the Congress-led coalition opposed the Congress Party's first choice. | Mrs Patil emerged as a surprise, last-minute candidate after left-wing parties in the Congress-led coalition opposed the Congress Party's first choice. |
| She was backed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, but was mocked by opponents and by some sections of India's media. | She was backed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, but was mocked by opponents and by some sections of India's media. |
| This is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold Pratibha Patil Profile: Pratibha Patil | This is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold Pratibha Patil Profile: Pratibha Patil |
| But Mrs Gandhi, the Congress Party leader, hailed her candidate's win. | But Mrs Gandhi, the Congress Party leader, hailed her candidate's win. |
| "In the 60th year of our independence, for the first time we have a woman president," she said. | "In the 60th year of our independence, for the first time we have a woman president," she said. |
| "I am grateful to the people of India and the men and women of India and this is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold," the Reuters news agency quoted Mrs Patil as saying after her victory was confirmed. | |
| There was also support at a hostel Mrs Patil established in Mumbai, in her home state of Maharashtra. | There was also support at a hostel Mrs Patil established in Mumbai, in her home state of Maharashtra. |
| "It is encouraging for other women who want to step out of their homes and make something out of their careers or do something in the world," said one resident, Priya Mehra. | "It is encouraging for other women who want to step out of their homes and make something out of their careers or do something in the world," said one resident, Priya Mehra. |
| Balancing role | Balancing role |
| Mrs Patil has courted controversy, recently telling a Muslim congregation that the veil was introduced to protect their women from Mughal invaders, a comment she later retracted. | Mrs Patil has courted controversy, recently telling a Muslim congregation that the veil was introduced to protect their women from Mughal invaders, a comment she later retracted. |
| She also faced allegations that a bank she helped set up gave out cheap loans to her relatives before it folded up. | She also faced allegations that a bank she helped set up gave out cheap loans to her relatives before it folded up. |
| The Congress Party has rejected those allegations and was highly critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition candidate, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, an 83-year-old party veteran. | The Congress Party has rejected those allegations and was highly critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition candidate, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, an 83-year-old party veteran. |
| The presidency is largely a ceremonial post, but plays a key role with a fragmented electorate often throwing up precariously placed coalition governments. | The presidency is largely a ceremonial post, but plays a key role with a fragmented electorate often throwing up precariously placed coalition governments. |
| Around 4,500 MPs and state legislators were eligible to vote in the election. | Around 4,500 MPs and state legislators were eligible to vote in the election. |
| Mrs Patil will succeed A P J Abdul Kalam, a popular missile scientist, as president. | Mrs Patil will succeed A P J Abdul Kalam, a popular missile scientist, as president. |