RSS strongman M P Kumar was a powerful presence at the supposedly one-on-one breakfast meet between Yeddyurappa and Nilekani. And why not? He's the one who brought them together
RSS strongman M P Kumar was a powerful presence at the supposedly one-on-one breakfast meet between Yeddyurappa and Nilekani. And why not? He's the one who brought them together
It was an RSS man who brought chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and IT czar Nandan Nilekani to the breakfast table on Monday.
The chief minister's itinerary said Nilekani would pay Yeddyurappa a courtesy call over breakfast. But when journalists gathered to cover the event at the CM's residence on Race Course Road, they were surprised to see a third person in the supposed one-on-one meeting.
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Powerhouse: Nandan Nilekani in a meeting with chief minister Yeddyurappa.u00a0 Also seen are industrialist M P Kumar (seated) and principal secretary for the CM, V P Baligar Pic/Vinod Kumar T |
Enquiries on the spot did not yield results but insiders later revealed that the interloper was M P Kumar, a strongman in the RSS core group, who actually brokered the meeting.
He is also a close associate of Vijendra, the chief minister's son.
"Kumar is one of the vital links between the CM and the sangha parivar," a source said. "And he was instrumental in the meeting between Yeddyurappa and Nilekani."
Personal
According to sources, Yeddyurappa was looking for ways to snuggle up to the IT lobby since his advisors have suggested that he build a tech-friendly image like S M Krishna at the state and national levels.
They chose Nilekani because of his firm hold on the sector even after leaving Infosys to head the Unique Identification Authority, formed to issue IDs to every citizen.
His new position qualified him to be a link between the state and the central governments and the IT industry. And Kumar came in handy because of his rapport with Nilekani.
Friendly touch
Kumar refused to comment on his role in the meeting but a non-committal Nilekani told MiD DAY: "Kumar is known to me and the CM, and his presence made the meeting more friendly."
However, Nilekani expressed his support to the state government and assured the CM of discussing important issues of common interest. "We shall keep in touch," he said to Yeddyurappa while getting into his car.
Yeddyurappa told reporters he was proud of Nilekani in the wake of his new responsibility and hoped the state would benefit from it.
Who's that man?M P Kumar, who runs a software company in the city, is from Shikaripura the CM's home constituency. He has been associated with the RSS for more than four decades and was a long-time member of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), the BJP's student wing.
Kumar is understood to have ironed out the differences between the RSS and B S Yeddyurappa. After the recent dissidence in the party, a miffed RSS went to the extent of admonishing the chief minister but it was Kumar who saved the situation in Yeddyurappa's favour.
