Infosys ex-honcho Balakrishnan seeks to change system

After seeing the money being spent by the BJP and the Congress, Balakrishnan feels that contributions to political parties, especially for funding elections, should be made public.

"Like charity, accountability and transparency should begin with political parties to eliminate quid pro quo and make the system immune to corruption."

Balakrishnan, who joined AAP after the Delhi assembly elections, said he was ready for a long haul in politics and public life irrespective of the Lok Sabha outcome.

"As we have to make a beginning somewhere, general election is an ideal platform to intensify the war against corruption by creating awareness and involving the people to become agents of change."

As head of India business unit at Infosys and earlier as its chief financial executive for years, Balakrishnan had vast exposure to the way the "system" works in the corridors of power - and how difficult it is to get anything done in the government without influence or quid pro quo.