<div>Billionaire Infosys co-founder and face of "Aadhar" programme Nandan Nilekani formally joined the Congress today, a day after it made him party candidate for Bangalore Lok Sabha constituency where he is up for a tough fight.<br /><br />Amid drumbeats, Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, was welcomed into Congress by KPCC President G Parameshwara who handed over the party flag to him before he filled in the membership form at a function at party office here.<br /><br />"Bangalore needs a strong champion in Delhi and I'm set to provide that," said 58-year old Nilekani, known for being part of building Infosys, started in 1981 with an initial capital of $250 by N R Narayana Murthy and others, into a behemoth that is seen as showpiece of Indian IT industry.<br /><br />On his political baptism, Nilekani will take on BJP's Ananth Kumar, who has remained unchallenged in Bangalore South, winning the seat five times.<br /><br />Middle-class dominated Bangalore South has been electorally hostile to Congress since the late 1970s, the sole exception being its victory in 1989 when former Chief Minister R Gundu Rao had won.<br /><br />On facing a strong candidate like Kumar, Nilekani said "In every profession, politics or business there comes a time when somebody has to go, and that time has arrived."<br /><br />Weeks before his formal entry into Congress, Nilekani had begun his campaign, coming to grips with ground realities as he faces a daunting task to reach out to 20 lakh plus voters with the polls in Karnataka slated for April 17.<br /><br />"I think the constituency needs a clean, capable local person, somebody who has worked selflessly; ....everywhere I go there is a strong desire for change. I have got tremendous support," he added.<br /><br />Asked if allegations of corruption against Congress-led UPA government would affect his prospects, he said "....it is not that the other party (BJP) has a great clean image either, we know the problems we had for the last five years in the state."<br /><br />"I look forward to working with the party because party is going through change; I have been invited to be part of the change, I would like to do that," Nilekani said. <br /><br />"....I'm confident that I will be an ambassador for Bangalore. I will work with all the MLA's, Chief Minister and Congress President to make sure that Bangalore gets the best deal," Nilekani said.<br /><br />Stating that he is experienced in public sector, private sector and in urban governance, Nilekani said he has gained some political experience too while working for Aadhar, as he had a task of convincing Chief Ministers from various political parties to implement the scheme.<br /><br />He said: "I think I bring some unique experience to the people, three major things I was part of. First from scratch I was co-founder of one of India's largest companies so I know how to create jobs and I have created lakhs of them. Number two from scratch from an idea I was part of a ID programme which gave 60 crore people identity. Third, 1999 to 2004 I was chairman of BATF (Bangalore Agenda Task Force) where I got an opportunity to go into nitty-gritty of local governance...."<br /><br />"I know every detail of how a city functions, so the fact that I have diverse experience.. I'm a clean and local candidate. Therefore people should vote for me," he added.<br /><br />Asked about getting the ticket for elections soon after joining Congress, whereas loyal long-time party workers are still waiting for their chance, he said, "I was going to join the party was a well known fact for long time, for the last five years I have worked with this government- they gave the political backing to me to go ahead with the Aadhar project; ....they have chosen me as the candidate to bring change into the system.<br /><br />"I'm very greatful to them (Congress), it is a matter of great pride they have given me the ticket. I will serve the party as a loyal party member and will make sure that this party does well," he added.<br /><br />Rules stipulate that ticket seekers should serve in the party for three years but it has apparently been relaxed in the case of Nilekani.<br /><br />After demitting office as Infosys CEO in 2007, Nilekani had taken charge as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, mandated to give a billion Indians an identity card.<br /><br />(PTI)</div>
