Aam Aadmi Party a political outfit with 'agitational DNA': Nandan Nilekani

Bangalore: Infosys founder and Congress candidate from Bangalore South, Nandan Nilekani on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party is not a factor in the Lok Sabha elections.

"I'm confident of winning from Bangalore south, I'm also sure that AAP is not a factor in Bangalore south, it is a party with agitational DNA," Mr Nilekani told reporters in response to a question on AAP being a factor in elections as it shares his idea of clean politics.

He said India needs deep reforms and there is a need to work with the system to bring in those reforms rather than take to agitating.

"My style of working is not giving sound bites to OB (outdoor broadcast) vans," he added.

Mr Nilekani, who joined the Congress party on Sunday, will take on five-time BJP MP Ananth Kumar in a tough battle.

When asked if the Congress party was a bad choice Mr Nilekani said "I cannot decide my politics based on the passion of the day...it is not that the other party has the great clean image either, we know the problems we had for the last five years in the state."

"I look forward to working with the party because party is going through change; I have been invited to be part of the change, I would like to do that," he added.

To a question on being fielded against Ananth Kumar, Nilekani said "For everything there is a time and the time has come for someone to go, that time has arrived... there is a fatigue factor now. They need change and I represent that change."

"I think the constituency needs clean, capable, local person, somebody who has worked selflessly; ...everywhere I go, there is a strong desire for change. I have got tremendous support," he added.