NR Narayana Murthy seeks to scotch speculation over Presidential ambition

BENGALURU: Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy today sought to scotch speculation about his being a contender for the post of President.

"This should neither be discussed nor speculated upon. They (those in power) know whom to make and whom not to make (the president). It (discussing it) does not look nice. This should be left to the seniors to decide and we should do our job," he told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Murthy was replying to a query about his name being "heard" for Presidentship.

Of late, there was speculation in the media that the 69-year-old Chairman Emeritus of Infosys is "eyeing" the President's post.

In 2007 too, Murthy's name had cropped up as being a possible presidential candidate to succeed APJ Abdul Kalam but he had dismissed talks that he was running for presidency as mere speculation.

Replying to a query, Murthy, who had not attended the meeting of the newly-constituted Vision Group for preparing a blueprint for Bengaluru, said he met the Chief Minister to discuss some issues pertaining to an educational institute. "I have come to meet the Chief Minister for some issues relating to an educational institute, it has not got anything to do with Vision Group," he said.

Asked about the reason for not attending the Vision Group meeting which was attended by Wipro Chief Azim Premji, Murthy said he was away in London and hence could not make himself available.