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, an ambitious flagship programme of the UPA.
Nilekani had been maintaining silence on reports about his political plans, which had gained more currency after the KPCC reportedly shortlisted his name among the three probable candidates for Bangalore south recently.
Nilekani was at the receiving end of a jibe from his former Infosys colleague Mohandas Pai, who said in an interview, "There is deep concern among citizens that we are getting a person imposed from above to be an MP, who has not done grassroots work, not been around, who a particular party is trying to parachute here to be a nominee and fight."
A stung Nilekani had reportedly said, quoting Indira Gandhi, "In politics you need a thick skin."
