India could see first-ever female president
Afp, New Delhi
India's ruling Congress party yesterday chose a woman as its candidate in a presidential vote next month, raising the prospect that the country could see its first female head of state. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi announced at a press conference that the governor of the desert state of Rajasthan, Pratibha Patil, had been chosen as its candidate to succeed President Abdul Kalam. "It's a historic moment," said Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The post of president holds limited authority over day-to-day affairs, but can play a crucial role in government formation at state and federal levels, making the selection a battleground as it has been this year. The post is chosen by an electoral college of state and federal legislators. They are due to vote on July 19 and the counting of votes is scheduled for July 21, chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami said Wednesday.
| 
