Patil's brother killed husband, says woman

The woman, backed by NDA, says her husband had been murdered by the presidential nominee's brother.

The presidential election took an ugly turn on Friday with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parading a woman who claimed that her husband had been murdered by United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) nominee Pratibha Patil's brother.

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Addressing a press conference at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's residence, the woman, Rajni Patil, alleged that Pratibha Patil's brother murdered his political rival and her husband VG Patil in September 2005.

The Mumbai-based Rajni, who said that Pratibha Patil had been protecting the culprit, said she had given a memorandum to President APJ Abdul Kalam giving details about the allegation.

"Pratibha Patil has been protecting her brother," Rajni told reporters in New Delhi.

The ruling Congress said that Rajni Patil had been "planted" by the NDA.

Pratibha Patil, the former Rajasthan governor, has been nominated as the official candidate of UPA-Left-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) combine, which holds the majority of votes in the electoral college that elects the President.