By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The ruling Left in Kerala and the Congress Thursday set aside their rivalry to support Pratibha Patil, assuring her of 100 percent votes from the state in the July 19 presidential poll.
Support for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate was announced first by Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and then by Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy at a meeting of all state legislators and all MPs from the state at a hotel here. Patil is here to campaign for the election.
Also present were Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed.
Kerala has 140 legislators, 20 Lok Sabha and eight Rajya Sabha members.
Of these, K.M. Mani, who is convalescing in a hospital in USA will not vote. Election petitions challenging the elections of A.J. Jacob, legislator from Piravom, and P.C. Thomas, Lok Sabha member from Muvattupuzha, are pending and they will not be able to vote.
"Gandhiji's dream was fulfilled when we had a Dalit as president (K.R. Narayanan) and now we are going to have a woman as the president, and we assure you that all the votes from Kerala would be for you," Achuthanandan said, addressing Patil.
Incidentally, Kerala would probably be the only state in the country where all the legislators and parliament members will vote for Patil.
"Even though we have differences of opinion on various issues, we are happy to say that at least on one point in electing you as the president we are one," said Chandy, amid loud clapping.
Thanking those prsent, Patil said: "I don't regard this as my election but a victory for millions of citizen's in this country.
"In spite of all attempts being made to tarnish my image, I assure you that I will serve the country with utmost dignity," she said.
Patil arrived here by a special flight from Chennai at 5.45 p.m. She was received by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Vijaykumar, State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and others.
She will leave for Bangalore Saturday.