The President-elect, Ms Pratibha Patil, will now also be “the head” of her family in a true “matriarchal tradition”.
“She will be the head of the family. It will now be a matriarchal family,” her husband Devisingh Shekhawat jokingly remarked when newspersons  asked him on Sunday who would call the shots in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He said the family would move to the presidential palace after Ms Patil assumes office on July 25.

Mr Shekhawat said one of his sons had taken charge of their family-run educational institutions in Maharashtra two years ago and he was no longer involved in their administration.

Asked how he would feel being the husband of the President, he said, “I am just an ordinary person.”Greetings poured-in from all over the country even as the new First family readied itself to move in to the Raisina Hills on  Wednesday.

Political leaders and well- wishers on Sunday made a beeline for the South Avenue temporary residence to greet the first woman President-elect of the country.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, former Chattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi were among the politicians who greeted the President-elect.

Mr Dasmunsi, who met Ms Patil with his legislator wife and son said, “Yesterday, I was busy with the counting related work. So I could not meet the President-elect.”

“We wish that her tenure is a great success” said Mr Dasmunsi.

 and provides a new dimension to the post of the President,” said Mr Dasmunsi, who was Patil’s election agent.
Mr Dasmunsi’s wife expressed confidence that Ms Patil’s election would usher in an era of “women’s empowerment.”

Apart from the VIP visitors, there was steady stream of people who lined up to greet Ms Patil. Among them was a group of Brahma Kumaris, the spiritual organisation that Patil holds in high esteem.