Date:02/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/02/stories/2007070251880500.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

BJP stance condemned

Special correspondent

KOZHIKODE: Union Minister of State for External Affairs and leader of the Indian Union Muslim League E. Ahamed has said the Bharatiya Janata Party is playing “dirty politics” by opposing the candidature of Pratibha Patil in the presidential election.

Condemning the opposition voiced by the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP to Ms. Patil’s candidature, Mr. Ahamed said it was a matter of shame that the BJP was treating the presidential poll like “a panchayat election” by raising allegations against Ms. Patil, the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance which is also supported by the League.

He wondered why the BJP had not questioned the credentials of Ms. Patil when she was Governor of Rajasthan for two years.

“Is not the office of Governor as august as that of President,” he asked in a statement here on Saturday.