Bangalore South: Nilekani ready to take on Ananth

Even though he has not officially joined the Congress, billionaire and head of Unique Identification Authority of India, Nandan Nilekani has started campaigning for Bangalore South. This IT czar, who co-founded IT bellwether Infosys, is pitching his battle as a local boy with clean image to take on BJP’s HN Ananth Kumar, a five time MP from Bangalore South.

Nandan who is expecting to join the Congress soon is meeting all the Congress block level leaders to garner their support. Nandan who is brought up as a Bangalore kid with his IT image is confidant of taking on Ananth Kumar who is facing a crisis in the constituency. Many in the BJP openly accept Ananth  Kumar’s image has taken a beating and Nandan is expected to give a good fight in Bangalore South.

Nandan told The Pioneer that people are fed up with corruption and need a person with clean image. “I am born and brought up in Bangalore. My father was working here . I am a local in real sense. I am waiting for the Congress party to give me ticket. I am ready to contest from Bangalore South.”

Nandan, an IIT-ian who changed the face of Infosys as a global model along with Narayanmurthy, has always been clear in his thought process. He quit Infosys in 2009 and joined the Government as head of UIDAI. According to Congress leaders, he has been the choice of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi to contest from Bangalore South.

There were some grumbles heard in the local Congress leader’s level but once it came from high command everything has fallen in line to make it possible for Nandan. Nandan is quite aware it was going to be a tough fight. Nandan has to fight not only Ananth Kumar but also a candidate from the AAP in the urban euphoria.

Nandan, who believes in Neharuvian model of ideology, has bet his luck on the Congress and its wave in Bangalore South depending on urban IT voters. Meanwhile, BJP’s Anantha Kumar riding on Modi wave is doing everything possible to be victorious sixth time from Bangalore South. He has already planned his moves with consolidating his grassroots level workers anticipating a stiff resistance from Congress and Nandan Nilekani.

Bangalore South one of the 28 lS constituencies in State has always been keenly contested. It was a Congress bastion busted by Janata Party and later by the BJP. BJP’s Anantha Kumar has been winning from this constituency since 1996. In 2009 Kumar won by just around 37000 votes against  Congress  candidate Krishna Byre Gowda who gave a tough fight . Nandan is now riding on a new wave banking on his clean image to fight Anantha Kumar who has won for five times in Bangalore South.