ENARADA, Bangalore, March 21, 2014
Nandan Nilekani filed his nomination papers today to contest in the upcoming Loksabha Assembly Elections. He will contest as the Congress candidate for the MP seat in the South Bengaluru constituency. He is taking on BJP’s five times winner Ananth kumar.
Nandan was accompanied by Ministers, Congress Leaders, party workers as well as supporters and by his wife, Arghayam Chairperson Rohini Nilekani.
The roads around Ashoka Pillar saw around five thousand South Bengalurians joining Nandan Nilekani as he walked to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Jayanagar office to file his nomination papers.
The crowd lifted a smiling Nandan on their shoulders cheering “Vote for Nandan”, “Vote for Congress”.
‘This is an important day for the people of Bengaluru, not just for me,’ Nandan said, standing next to Rohini Nilekani and surrounded by Congress leaders. ‘I believe Bengaluru deserves leaders who are passionate about building a better city for each one of us.’
‘We deserve leaders who are not hungry for power, but want to do something good, something concrete,’ Nandan said, ‘We need leaders who will create opportunities for others.’
Nandan filed his nomination papers with the Returning Officer, Bangalore South. Nandan’s name was proposed by Shri Ramalinga Reddy, and he was accompanied by Rohini Nilekani, M Krishnappa and R V Devraj.
‘We are completely open about the wealth we have earned,’ Rohini said while commenting on their asset declaration, ‘because its hard-earned money, and we are transparent about every rupee. I believe that by doing this, we will encourage others to come forward and be more transparent about their wealth. It is important to bring more honesty into our politics.’
Co-Chairman, KPCC Campaign Committee, D.K.Shiva Kumar, Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna, Entrepreneur Shri UB Venkatesh, Youth Congress Vice President, L.S. Chethan Gowda, Congress President Padmanabha Nagar constituency, M C Venugopal, DR. B.Gurappa Naidu, Prof Rajeev Gowda, Corporators Uday Shankar, G.N.R Babu and several other leaders visited Nandan to show their support.
It can be recalled that both BJP and Congress candidates are indulging in war of words. Ananth kumar had said NDA, if comes to power will scrap Adhar project. For this Nandan kept mum but for another comment made by Ananth Kumar (Nandan Nilekani developed a love for Bangalore South Constituency for the last 18 days but I am nurturing this constituency for the last 18 years), Nandan reacted sharply.
‘I look forward to representing this constituency and its people,’ Nandan said, ‘As Bengaluru South’s MP, I will acknowledge and work for our people’s long ignored needs.’
‘There is a lot to be done for Bengaluru South,’ Nandan added. ‘Ananth Kumar talks about hitting a ‘sixer for development,’ but we all know his score has been a zero in the past five terms. He’s not been batting for the people’s side. So let’s get him out.’
