What Christians expect from soon to be the first Woman President of India?

Smt. Pratibha Patil goes one step closer to become the first woman President of India as peoples' representatives cast their vote today.

What Christians expect from soon to be the the first woman President of the country?

It will start from asking what makes her tick as the Presidential nominee of the reigning coalition government? The fact is that she is a no–nonsense woman. Many believe her three–year tenure as Governor had helped sealed her nomination. She proved that behind that benign exterior is a tough, no–nonsense leader who has dealt even–handedly with both the BJP and the Congress.

Though her political career was long, she was not in the limelight until her firmness took Rajasthan's BJP government by surprise when last year Patil refused to sign the Anti–Conversion Bill.

The controversial bill sought to ban all religious conversions in the state. Patil not just returned it, she also "reserved" it for President Abdul Kalam's consideration.

Not surprisingly, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the Indian Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCI) too had endorsed the choice of Mrs. Patil as the first women President of India.

While speaking with AsiaNews recently, Card. Toppo said “the Catholic Church welcomes her candidature” and recalls that since independence, in 1947, India has adopted various laws “to help and protect women”. “More women now serve in the armed forces, in senior corporate, media and government positions, and there are more girls in schools One–third of seats in village councils are now reserved for women. Sadly however, in certain rural areas in India, women are still relegated to a secondary status; this will give a great boost to Women all over the country, that it is possible for one of their own kind to be President of the largest democracy in the world. Indira Gandhi, was the First women Prime Minister so now India is poised to welcome her First Woman President”.

It will be a good news for Christians if Smt. Patil wins the election. One can expect the same spirit of keeping secular image and secular thoughts intact even after she makes it to the President post.

Considering the electoral strength of United Progressive Alliance and their partners, Smt Pratibha Patil is expected to sail through smoothly to the Raisina Hill.

In the Presidential election the UPA, Left and BSP combined have 5.7 lakh votes out of the 10.98 lakh total votes of the Electoral College. If Shiv Sena's 28,000 votes are added to this tally, the figure goes up to 5.98 lakh votes, the figure is way above the half–way mark provided the cross–voting do not takes place.