Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw rules out joining AAP

Contrary to the recent trend of political activism of top some corporate figures who have joined the Aam Adami Party (AAP), Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Saturday ruled out joining any political party.

"I will not be a part of AAP and for that matter any other political party," she told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of a Biocon product in Bangalore. Mazumdar-Shaw said said she would like herself to play the role of giving suggestions to political parties on good governance and economy.

Her reaction comes in the wake of established corporate figures Captain Gopinath, pioneeer of low cost airline in the country, and former Infosys Director V Balakrishnan joining AAP, as also some others. Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has also shown interest to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket from Bangalore South constituency.

On Nilakeni's intentions of joining politics, she said people, who are keen to bring change in an innovative way, should be welcomed. "Nandan is among those who has the inclination to bring change into all systems, including political, with innovative ideas. He has very clear vision. A person like him will certainly bring about change," Mazumdar-Shaw said.

To a query about AAP reaching out to corporate leaders to formulate its manifesto before the Lok Sabha polls, she said the document should look at bringing transparency into the business world and create much more level-playing field for them.

Mazumdar-Shaw, who is also Bangalore Political Action Committee President, said there was a need to very seriously address issues of corruption in business world which creates rough field for players. "There is a lot of crony capitalism which provides advantages to a few, and some of them do not benefit from some of government licenses and policies. We need to address that very seriously," she added.

Mazumdar-Shaw said AAP or any other party should adopt smarter regulation and do away with over-regulation. She also stressed on more use of technology to root out corruption. The manifesto should also include more investments in education, health care, job-creating businesses and entrepreneurship.