Congress Bangalore South candidate Nandan Nilekani formally joins party, says it's time for Ananth Kumar to go,UIDAI,Nandan Nilekani,Congress list,Infosys ,2014 Lok Sabha polls,Bangalore, Congress, Nandan Nilekani,Ananth Kumar,Aadhar,BJP,Lok Sabha polls

Congress Bangalore South candidate Nandan Nilekani formally joins party, says it's time for Ananth Kumar to go

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman and Congress candidate from Bangalore South in the Lok Sabha polls Nandan Nilekani on Sunday formally joined the grand old party in Bangalore, amid slogans and drumbeats, with the 58-year old billionaire and co-founder of software behemoth Infosys saying the Indian IT hub "needs a strong champion in Delhi".

Soon after joining the Congress, the high-profile Lok Sabha candidate said it was time for his rival - BJP's Ananth Kumar - to go.

"There are times in business or politics when one has to go. I think time has come for him to go," Nilekani said without taking Ananth Kumar's name in response to queries about what he thought of his prospects over his rival who had been representing the seat since 1996, winning it five consecutive times.

He said he "was born and brought up in Bangalore" and that he would like to "transform the city" with world class infrastructure facilities and promote it as a model city by becoming its ambassador to the world.

He said he had all the credentials to enter the poll fray with vast experience in the private sector as well as public sector.

"During my tenure as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) since 2009, I had the opportunity to interact with political parties, their leaders, state governments and thousands of officials and people to know at firsthand the nuances of administration, governance and delivery of public services," he said.

Nilekani asserted, "I also had an opportunity to create thousands of jobs as Infosys' co-founder and contribute immensely to the nation as UIADI chairman by giving Aadhar number to about 600 million people and empowering them with a unique identify for multiple benefits."

Asked if he considered himself lucky to be chosen to contest from the high-profile constituency even before he could formally join the party, Nilekani said his exposure to politics and government functioning over the past five years had convinced him that it was imperative to become a lawmaker to serve the people and contribute to the city's overall development.

"In addition to my association with the ruling establishment and political class, I have a clean image and contributed to the infrastructure growth of Bangalore as chairman of Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) from 1999-2004 under then chief minister S.M Krishna," Nilekani recalled.

Admitting that no political party, including the Congress, was free from corruption charges and accusations of misrule, Nilekani said it was precisely to erase such a negative image that he was entering politics and contesting the elections.

"There is no point in indulging in a blame game. If you want to get rid of corruption, poor governance, poverty and all other ills plaguing the country, then the only way is to enter politics, become a lawmaker and do your best to change things for better," he said.

Seeking the support of party leaders and cadres in his campaign, Nilekani expressed hope that all classes of people, especially the youth, techies, professionals and women would vote for him and help the Congress win Bangalore South, which it last won in 1991.

Congress, BJP release list
On Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress released lists of Lok Sabha candidates, with Nilekani taking on five-time MP Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South. Nilekani has already launched campaign in Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency.

Lok Sabha Election 2014 Congress Candidate List.New

Lok Sabha Election 2014 BJP Candidate List New 

Nilekani under BJP fire
On Saturday, the BJP had petitioned electoral authorities against Nilekani taking exception to his name and picture figuring with Aadhar Card advertisements, when the model code of conduct is in force.

"For the last 15 or 20 days Bangalore has been seeing various advertisements where Nandan Nilekani proclaims himself to be the giver of about 60 crore Aadhar cards to Indians," Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party Co-spokesperson Malavika Avinash told reporters after complaining to Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha.

Pointing out that Nilekani is only an officer who was part of implementation of a Union Government scheme, she said "....it is not his private enterprise that he goes out advertising like this

Also Read:- Lok Sabha 2014 Updates| Opinion poll |Candidate list for upcoming elections|Election Schedule| National News 

"Even so if he may have, he should have quit doing these advertisements....soon after the Chief Election Commissioner implemented the model code of conduct, but he has continued to advertise Aadhar card as his own private enterprise," she added.

Stating that Bharatiya Janata Party has strong objection on this matter, Malavika said "we have lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, stating that he should be removed from his position as the Chief of Aadhar card project and all his advertisements should be withdrawn."

Questioning Nilakani's "Better Bangalore" advertisements, she said "who really is he to be claiming to make a better Bangalore...., in what capacity is he speaking is what we would like to know."

"He should refrain from doing so immediatly." she added.

Source: Indian Express,In.com,PTI

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