By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, presidential candidate of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties, is likely to file her nomination papers on June 23.
Patil, whose name was announced as the UPA-Left candidate Thursday, is expected to file her nomination papers Saturday, Congress sources said, adding that she will resign as Rajasthan governor before that.
After arriving in the capital Saturday to launch her poll campaign, she went on a day's visit to Udaipur in Rajasthan Sunday to attend a function in honour of legendary Rajput king Maharana Pratap returning here in the evening for another round of meetings.
She met several senior leaders including former prime minister V.P. Singh and Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh. She, however, refused to speak to the media.
She also met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and discussed the poll strategy.
Patil's possible opponent, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, met at his residence Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj and Janata Dal (United) leader Digvijay Singh.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party at its National Executive meeting left the decision on its strategy on the presidential election to party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The Samajwadi Party is a member of the newly formed eight-party 'Third Front' that is meeting in Chennai Monday to decide on whom to support in the presidential election.
The last date for filing of nominations is June 30 with scrutiny on July 2 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 4.
Polling will take place July 19 and counting of votes will be on July 21, three days before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam demits office.
The new incumbent will be in Rashtrapati Bhavan July 25.