Aadhaar & campaign politics

A press conference at the Planning Commission on the Aadhaar project was attended by its chief Nandan Nilekani and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, but it was the latter who had to face an uncomfortable question. That too, one that had nothing to do with the Aadhaar project. Ahluwalia was asked what he thought of Nilekani's political ambitions and whether he would campaign for him. Ahluwalia, who has been a supporter of the Aadhaar project and Nilekani, said yes, he would. However, the reply soon turned controversial as the journalist followed up with a statement masquerading as a question to the effect that Ahluwalia would campaign for Nilekani but not Rahul Gandhi. The usually articulate Ahluwalia eventually did manage to talk himself out of potential trouble, but not without some effort.