Nilekani welcomes 'decisive' verdict of the people

Welcoming the 'decisive' verdict of the people in the Lok Sabha elections, Infosys Co-Chairman Nandan Nilekani today said the UPA Government in its second stint has been given a mandate for taking "bold" reforms.      

Commenting on the likelihood of the UPA returning to power, Nilekani said "these people (UPA) are sincere and therefore they deserve a second chance".      

"It is a very decisive verdict. Also the message here is get on with bold steps, with bold reforms," he said in his first comments on the trends that the counting of votes has thrown up.      

"Let's call it more of a national thing ... At the end of the day, at the national level there is vote for stability, of vote for decisive government," Nilekani said.      

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his first term, may have been cowed down by the Left presence but in his second term he would have a free hand, he said.      

"This is the first time you have the advantage," Nilekani said. "Also I think this time (for) the government there is no ideological barrier. In other words all the supporting allies have no ideological dispute with the Congress," he added.      

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said the UPA retaining power would see the stock markets reacting positively.     

"(The) stock market is going to look at a responsible government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh... The PM (Singh) knows the economy," he said.