Pratibha Patil, 72, is to become India's first woman president after winning winning nearly two-thirds of the votes in state assemblies and in India's parliament, Indian officials say.

Patil entered the presidential race as a last-minute candidate after left-wing parties in the Congress-led coalition opposed the Congress Party's first choice.

She was backed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and harshly criticized by some of the media.

BBC commented that while some see her victory as an important step towards gender equality in India, many view it as only a symbolic gesture.

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