New Delhi, June 14 :    New Delhi, June 14:  The Left Front today fielded Lakshmi Sehgal, former captain in the Indian National Army, as their candidate for the presidential elections, a contest which seems to be over even before it began. She is the first woman to contest the presidenial poll. Sehgal, 88, who led 'Rani of Jhansi' - the first women's regiment in Subhas Chandra Bose's INA - shares a close relationship with the Left, particularly the CPM, and has been actively involved in the trade union and women's movements in Kanpur. A doctor by profession, Sehgal treated patients all through her political career. Her daughter, Subhashini Ali, was the CPM's Lok Sabha MP from Kanpur. Following the Congress pullout from the presidential elections yesterday, the Left decided on its candidate unanimously, given that it required no further consensus from any ally. All it took was a nod from the former INA captain. Having obtained that, the Left leaders held a press conference and said Sehgal has impeccable credentials befitting a presidential candidate. 'We want the contest to be political,' said CPM general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet. According to insiders, when Left leaders contacted Sehgal, her first response was: 'Why me?' However, she agreed after the leaders explained to her that it was a political battle. Sehgal is expected to reach Delhi from Kanpur this evening. It was a foregone conclusion that none other than a member of the Left would agree to participate in a contest which in all probability would end in defeat. When informed of the party decision to go ahead and contest, former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu candidly observed that only a Communist Party 'cardholder' would now agree to stick his or her neck out. The Left has 85,000 votes in the 11-lakh-strong presidential electoral college. It, however, plans to raise its share of votes to a respectable one lakh. 'There are other Left parties which are expected to support us,' said CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan. The Left will be able to save its 50,000-deposit only if it manages to get one-sixth of the votes necessary for getting elected.