 "I can't support any political party, only wish the best for Nilekani, Balakrishnan: N R Narayana Murthy")
Despite Nandan Nilekani’s decision to contest the Lok Sabha election from Bangalore South on a Congress ticket, N R Narayana Murthy, Nilekani’s former senior colleague at Infosys, has remained apolitical. Murthy, who heads the information technology services company as executive chairman, has always been vocal against corruption. In an interview with Bibhu Ranjan Mishra, Murthy, also a voter in Bangalore South constituency, says he cannot support any political party as chairman of a company but he hopes Nilekani wins. He also says he wants a stable and progressive government at the Centre that is able to take decisions faster. Edited excerpts:
Your former colleague at Infosys, Nandan Nilekani, is seeking election from the Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket. Do you support his candidature?
I’m the executive chairman of Infosys. So, I cannot support any political party. However, my best wishes for him (Nilekani); I pray that he succeeds. But I cannot lean towards any one party because I am part of a company.
I do not know about Ashok Soota. But as the executive chairman of a company, I cannot take a political position. That is all.
While we want Nandan to succeed, the reality is we cannot lean towards a political party. I am apolitical. We respect all political parties. We want to respect every party that comes to power tomorrow.
Is your wife Sudha Murthy campaigning for Nilekani?
She is part of Infosys Foundation, so she cannot do it. Kindly understand that nobody connected with Infosys can take any position. That will not be possible. The reality is I have to be apolitical. However, I wish both Nandan and Balakrishnan (a former board member of Infosys, V Balakrishnan is contesting from the Bangalore Central constituency on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket) the best in their elections. That is all I can say.
What is your understanding of the situation? Is Nandan on a strong footing in Bangalore South?
I really do not know. As I said, because I am apolitical, I do not go deeper into these matters. As long as we have a good government that makes this country a better place, I will be happy.
As a citizen and business leader what kind of government do you want?
I would prefer a government that is stable and progressive, a government that takes quick decisions, a government that is much more oriented towards creating jobs, and one that attracts a lot of foreign investments. That is what we look for.
Your former colleague at Infosys, Nandan Nilekani, is seeking election from the Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket. Do you support his candidature?
I’m the executive chairman of Infosys. So, I cannot support any political party. However, my best wishes for him (Nilekani); I pray that he succeeds. But I cannot lean towards any one party because I am part of a company.
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Recently, another infotech industry veteran, Ashok Soota, openly supported Nilekani. He is also the founder and executive chairman of Happiest Minds Technologies.
I do not know about Ashok Soota. But as the executive chairman of a company, I cannot take a political position. That is all.
While we want Nandan to succeed, the reality is we cannot lean towards a political party. I am apolitical. We respect all political parties. We want to respect every party that comes to power tomorrow.
Is your wife Sudha Murthy campaigning for Nilekani?
She is part of Infosys Foundation, so she cannot do it. Kindly understand that nobody connected with Infosys can take any position. That will not be possible. The reality is I have to be apolitical. However, I wish both Nandan and Balakrishnan (a former board member of Infosys, V Balakrishnan is contesting from the Bangalore Central constituency on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket) the best in their elections. That is all I can say.
What is your understanding of the situation? Is Nandan on a strong footing in Bangalore South?
I really do not know. As I said, because I am apolitical, I do not go deeper into these matters. As long as we have a good government that makes this country a better place, I will be happy.
As a citizen and business leader what kind of government do you want?
I would prefer a government that is stable and progressive, a government that takes quick decisions, a government that is much more oriented towards creating jobs, and one that attracts a lot of foreign investments. That is what we look for.