Bangalore: It was a quintessential Sunday morning in Bangalore. That rare time when the roads are empty, unlike the maddening traffic hours of the weekdays. We're headed to Jayanagar 5th block in Bangalore South constituency. Election campaigning is in full-swing in one of the most-watched constituencies this Lok Sabha elections.
While her husband and the Congress party's candidate Nandan Nilekani was busy with meeting party workers and campaigning activities, Rohini Nilekani is reaching out to his constituency with her small team of volunteers.
Rohini is inside a house as we enter the narrow residential lane. She greets us when we meet her outside. "Today has been good. Sometimes we do get pushed back. The team is doing very well," says Rohini, referring to the volunteers of Together with Nandan group.
Interestingly, no symbols of the Congress party for Rohini and her motley bunch, many of whom are wearing Together with Nandan T-shirts and caps. Rohini herself is wearing one such cap. A fractured left hand supported by a sling notwithstanding, Rohini has been out since early morning, with several public engagements lined up for the day. "I am just happy that both my feet are alright and my right had is alright. That's what I am focusing on", she quips. To be noted is a small water bottle tucked into her sling.
The team is knocking at every door in the residential block, where Rohini introduces herself. "My husband Nandan is standing for the elections. He needs your support," she tells the residents. Some of the residents are delighted to have the surprise morning visitor when they open their doors, while others honestly reveal to her their voting choices.
Rohini admits that initially it was a difficult decision for her to give a green signal when Nilekani decided to enter politics. "Obviously it is a game changer for the city and country but it is very hard at a personal level," she tells CNN-IBN. "But I realised that he is absolutely right, that he can do it and he will do it very well so I thought that the right thing to do is to support him," she says. Since then there has been no looking back.
Nilekani has Tweeted about his wife: Campaigning even when in pain! This love and unstinting support gives me faith to be #Bengaluru's champion. (Link to Tweet: https://twitter.com/NandanNilekani/media)
The former journalist had backed her husband when he co-founded Infosys and later headed the UIDAI project. But politics is a different ball-game, one of the challenges being to create awareness about Nilekani and his candidature. "Sometimes when people don't know, we have to explain but when we say what he has done, then something connects," says Rohini as we reach a corner store where she greets the shopkeeper.
Her campaigning is focused on reaching as many voters as possible since the time is limited before Bangalore goes to vote on April 17. Rohini is confident of her husband's victory in the elections given that there is tough competition from his opponent from the BJP, five-time MP Ananth Kumar. "I have faith in the voters because we have all been asking for a good candidate," she says. And what do the voters want, many of whom are undecided? "I really don't know whom I am going to vote. We have to say a big no to corruption. I will consider voting for Nandan. Let's see," says Jayanagar resident Navya whose house Rohini had just visited.
Another resident Srinath says, "Nandan is a good man and can do a lot of work but is from a wrong party,"
Is it difficult for the family to deal with criticisms, now that Nilekani is a political figure under intense public scrutiny? "If it is the right man how can it be the wrong party and if it is the wrong man how can it be the right party? Because parties are not made of wood and furniture," she says.
Rohini has spearheaded various charitable organisations including Arghyam and Pratham Books. Over the past decade, the Nilekanis have donated nearly Rs 400 crores to various causes. Rohini is the real philanthropist in the family, her husband had told Forbes magazine last year. "As long as I am around I will continue my philanthropic work," she says.
But for now, Rohini is focused on winning goodwill and support for her husband ahead of the elections. "I hope we can convince them that Nandan is doing it for the right reasons," she says candidly.
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Pictures courtesy Together With Nandan
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