Nandan Nilekani, chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and one of the co-founders of outsourcing giant Infosys and later its chief executive officer, is set to join the Congress and fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore (South) constituency, if the buzz in political circles is to be believed.

There is an opinion that technocrats like Nilekani would do a world of good to politics as it is played out in India at present since they can come on board with their expertise and also have the legitimacy of being elected by popular votes. But there’s another point of view which says the cesspool that Indian politics is, it’s idealistic to believe even the best of technocrat or professional would be able to retain her/his professionalism or expertise. Sooner or later, those holding this opinion say, they will be drowned in the noise and will be made bound to follow the diktats of the ‘high command’, regardless of the party they join.

In these circumstances, is Nilekani joining politics a welcome step?