Nilekani fuels rumours about political foray

Infosys co-founder and face of the Aadhar programme, Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday met Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara, amid rumours that he would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"Nandan Nilekani met me this morning and shared his views... I have conveyed to him whatever I should as KPCC President," Karnataka PCC Chief G Parameshwara said.

After demitting office as CEO of Infosys in 2007, the billionaire former software czar had taken charge as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, mandated to give a billion Indians an identity card, an ambitious programme touted as a showpiece of its achievements by the UPA.

Nilekani has been maintaining silence on reports about his political plans, which has gained more currency after the KPCC reportedly shortlisted his name among the three probable candidates for Bangalore south recently.

BJP national general secretary Ananth Kumar has maintained his winning streak from the middle-class centric Bangalore south, known for its antipathy towards the Congress since the late 1970s, which has returned him as MP five times.

"Let us see the next developments," Parameshwara told reporters after the 30-minute meeting with Nilekani in New Delhi.

Asked by a Kannada TV channel whether Nilekani had given indications about his interest to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Parameshwara said, "It appears so.

Parameshwara said it would be a "good development if such people enter politics."