Nilekani meets Cong leaders in B'lore South

Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani on Monday began preparations for contesting the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in earnest by holding a meeting with Congress leaders of the Bangalore South parliamentary constituency.

In the meeting, attended by MLAs M Krishnappa, Priya Krishna and R V Devraj, KPCC women's wing chief Manjula Naidu and heads of block Congress committees, Nilekani is learnt to have sought support of the leaders. The UIDAI chairman said he was a Bangalorean and would like to serve the people of the Bangalore South constituency.

Nilekani is yet to take membership of the Congress. One of his close aides said he had not finalised a plan to officially become a party member and consultations with party leaders were underway. Sources said the party high command would offer him membership in Delhi.

On whether he would quit as the UIDAI chairman, Nilekani’s aides said there was no need for him to resign. The post is that of a Union cabinet rank minister.

In the meeting, Nilekani reportedly said he could have become a Rajya Sabha member, but decided to contest the elections to serve the people of the constituency. He also spoke at length about the significance of Aadhaar numbers. The meeting was held at KPCC backward classes cell president M C Venugopal’s residence at J P Nagar.

Though the Congress is yet to officially announce its candidates, the high command is learnt to have given a green signal to Nilekani’s candidature. He may face veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ananth Kumar.

Later, Nilekani met Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and leaders who were defeated in the 2013 Assembly elections.