Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Bangalore:
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani today said that he is ready to contest elections, ending several weeks of speculation over his entry into the political arena ahead of 2014.
"I am interested in doing something on the political front mainly because India needs lot of change... given a ticket, yes I will contest," Mr Nilekani said, addressing a press conference. The 58-year-old, who is in charge of the government's massive Aadhar scheme, also broadly hinted about his what his preferred political affiliation would be. "Congress has been very kind and supportive of me and my ideas," he said.
There had been a strong buzz that the Congress would be fielding the former software czar as its candidate for Bangalore South in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, due by May.
Rumours intensified after Mr Nilekani's meeting with Karnataka Congress President Paramaeshwara last month.
But state leaders are reportedly not too enthusiastic about the prospect. A formal announcement, too, is yet to be made over the technocrat's entry into the Congress.
"I am launching 'Ideas for Bengaluru', a way for people to suggest what can be done to make the city better," said Mr Nilekani who had launched a citizen's forum during his stint at Infosys.
A newspaper report had in December claimed that Mr Nilekani was in the running for prime ministership, also quoting him as saying it was "complete rubbish". Talk of him running for the country's top job picked up after Congress president Sonia Gandhi, after her party's massive defeat in four states, said that a prime ministerial candidate would be named at an "opportune time". (Nandan Nilekani for PM? Congress shrugs, others ask 'who's he?')
In 2009, Mr Nilekani quit as the Chief Executive Officer of Infosys, one of the most high-profile jobs in India Inc, to take over as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which is implementing the Aadhar identity cards to allow the poorest to receive benefits directly from the government. When complete, it will be the world's largest biometric database.
"I am interested in doing something on the political front mainly because India needs lot of change... given a ticket, yes I will contest," Mr Nilekani said, addressing a press conference. The 58-year-old, who is in charge of the government's massive Aadhar scheme, also broadly hinted about his what his preferred political affiliation would be. "Congress has been very kind and supportive of me and my ideas," he said.
There had been a strong buzz that the Congress would be fielding the former software czar as its candidate for Bangalore South in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, due by May.
Rumours intensified after Mr Nilekani's meeting with Karnataka Congress President Paramaeshwara last month.
But state leaders are reportedly not too enthusiastic about the prospect. A formal announcement, too, is yet to be made over the technocrat's entry into the Congress.
"I am launching 'Ideas for Bengaluru', a way for people to suggest what can be done to make the city better," said Mr Nilekani who had launched a citizen's forum during his stint at Infosys.
A newspaper report had in December claimed that Mr Nilekani was in the running for prime ministership, also quoting him as saying it was "complete rubbish". Talk of him running for the country's top job picked up after Congress president Sonia Gandhi, after her party's massive defeat in four states, said that a prime ministerial candidate would be named at an "opportune time". (Nandan Nilekani for PM? Congress shrugs, others ask 'who's he?')
In 2009, Mr Nilekani quit as the Chief Executive Officer of Infosys, one of the most high-profile jobs in India Inc, to take over as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which is implementing the Aadhar identity cards to allow the poorest to receive benefits directly from the government. When complete, it will be the world's largest biometric database.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
