Better late than never: Lakshmi Sehgal on UPA-Left choice

KANPUR: Better late than never, is how INA warhorse Laxmi Sehgal, who fought the last Presidential election, feels about a woman being chosen as the UPA's consensus candidate for the country's top post.

"At least, now top leaders of the Congress have realised it and decided to nominate a woman candidate for the highest post of the country," the 93-year-old said about Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as the UPA-Left combine candidate for President.

"It's better to be late than never," she said.

Capt Sehgal, who led the Rani Jhansi Regiment of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA), contested the 2002 Presidential poll as the Left Front candidate against Dr A P J Abdul Kalam but lost due to not enough support.

"I'm not worried about myself but I am happy that the country may elect its first woman President. I could not reach the post but another woman can...," Sehgal said and wished Patil the best.

Being a woman, Patil would understand their problems and issues and try to solve them, she said.

Sehgal was also "happy" that the long-pending Women's Reservation bill had been cleared and hoped there would be no problem on the issue in the future.

The Padma Vibhushan awardee is staying in the city with her daughter, CPI (M) leader and former MP Subhashni Ali.