Nandan Nilekani: Narendra Modi is a good chief minister
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has praised Narendra Modi's administrative skills as Chief Minister of Gujarat. On the Right to Be Heard Townhall debate on Headlines Today, the 59-year-old Congress candidate from Bangalore South refused to be drawn into questions on what he thought of Modi as PM. But he thought Modi was good as Chief Minister. "I worked with him (on UIDAI). He was certainly good to be a Chief Minister. There are many in the PM race. They have different strengths."
Bengaluru is asking for a change in its MP, says Nandan Nilekani
Faced with a barrage of questions from fellow Bangloreans on whether a man of his 'intellect' would be able to work under Rahul Gandhi, Nilekani staunchly defended the Congress vice president. "Rahul Gandhi has radical ideas of reform. He wants to open up opportunities for young people. He has the same ideas as I have on opening up the economy…the educational system."
Nilekani had a tough time deflecting questions on why an 'impeccably honest' professional like him chose the Congress, a party ridden with scams. "I think the ideology of the Congress is closest to mine. Congress is a party where I should be. I have joined politics to bring change in society. The Congress gave me a chance with the Aadhaar project. It's a party that will allow me to bring change." He said he was not a 'fall guy' for the Congress, pitched into the battle from a BJP stronghold. "You don't choose a party because it's the flavour of the month. I feel I will be able to work under a political system. I feel if people like me don't enter politics to bring change, who will?"
Nilekani is up against a five-time winner of the BJP from Bangalore South. He's a political outsider in a constituency that the Congress has not won for the last 25 years. But one of India's most successful IT honcho, Nilekani is super confident of turning the tide. "Bangalore needs a honest, passionate and hard-working MP and I will be that MP."
He rubbished his rival former Union Minister Ananth Kumar's claim that the battle for Bangalore South will be a reflection of the Narendra Modi Vs Rahul Gandhi contest. "He (Ananth Kumar) has nothing else to talk about. It's a local election. It's about issues of Bangalore. He has been here for five terms but has done nothing. Bangalore now wants a person who doesn't only play politics. Bangalore needs a problem solver and I am a problem solver. I will be the bridge between Bangalore and the Centre."
Asked why he had not joined the AAP like his former colleague ex-Infosys CFO V Balakrishnan, Nilekani said the Aam Aadmi Party had no ideology. "They are a confused lot. You can't solve problems in front of TV cameras, through agitation."
After 29 years in Infosys, five years as head of the UIDAI, some books under his belt, Nilekani said he has dived into politics as it was the ultimate lever for change. "It's a new challenge for me. The only way people will take me seriously is if I contest elections. I am someone who brings a clean track record to the table. I see myself as someone who can create opportunities for others." To a question whether he will be able to bring around change from within a political environment, Nilekani said after creating the world's largest ID system, he was confident that by negotiating through the system, one can achieve anything.
He said while the Aadhaar project may be temporarily on hold, it would be difficult to junk it whoever came to power because it was politically resilient and would make any government's work more effective.
Always a number-cruncher, Nilekani claimed all data showed that he was a clear winner from Bangalore South. Yes, he agreed that his hi-tech campaign was not good enough. One still had to go and knock on people's doors and ask for votes.
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