Bangalore:
The narrow lanes of Ashok Nagar in central Bangalore are a far cry from the plush corridors of Infosys, which its former Chief Financial Officer, V Balakrishnan, would be used to. But the streets of the city are his new beat, as he tries to persuade the voters of Bangalore Central, to make him their MP.
At a rally where Mr Balakrishnan arrived wearing an AAP cap, he agreed it was a different setting for him.
"It's a very different environment for me altogether. I used to go to AGMs where shareholders surround me - now all these are our stakeholders. Ultimately, whether it is corporate world or politics, you have a set of stakeholders and you have to appeal to them, understand the issues and try and solve it to the maximum extent. That is what it is all about," he said.
When asked about how he rated his chances Mr Balakrishnan said, "We are putting our best foot forward, conveying what we stand for - I think it will appeal to the majority of the people in this constituency. I am always optimistic!"
A shopkeeper right by the rally venue said, "I think he has a 50:50 chance."
Mr Balakrishnan is taking on the sitting MP from the BJP, P C Mohan. Mr Mohan said his rival's background would not make a difference. "Today, all sections of people want Narendra Modi as prime minister of this country... even the IT sector also, they are going to vote for BJP. Already lot of IT sector people are in touch with me," he said.
Mr Balakrishnan has tasted great success in his professional life so far. But it is his new stakeholders, the voters of Central Bangalore, who will decide how far he goes in his first venture into politics.