Nandan Nilekani gets Congress invite
This has fueled speculation about his entry into the fray from Bengaluru (South) Lok Sabha constituency.
Bangalore: In a significant development, Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) Chairman Nandan Nilekani met KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar in New Delhi on Tuesday, fuelling speculation about his entry into the fray from Bengaluru (South) Lok Sabha constituency.
Sources in Congress told Deccan Chronicle: “The party is keen on fielding winnable candidates from all constituencies in Lok Sabha elections. Our leaders are in the process of finalising some candidates, and Nilekani might just be one of them.” In order to contest as a Congress candidate, Mr Nilekani has to formally join the party, the sources added.
Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said Dr Parameshwar attempted to convince Mr Nilekani to take the plunge into electoral politics.
Speaking to media persons in Delhi, the KPCC president said “I strongly feel that he (Mr. Nilekani) should join our party. His work as UIDAI chairman is exemplary. He can serve the country better if he joins our party.”
The sources said Prof. Rajeev Gowda of IIM-B, former chairman of the Legislative Council B.L. Shankar, retired IPS officer K. C. Ramamurthy and Yeshwantpur legislator S. T. Somashekhar are lobbying for the ticket for Bengaluru (North) seat. For Bengaluru (Central) constituency, the names of former Union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, state Youth Congress president Rizwan Arshad and former IPS officer H. T. Sangliana are doing the rounds, the sources added.