Podcast: Run-up to B'lore polls

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G Ramachandran: Better traffic management, better discipline, less corruption, more breathing space, less pollution...

H R Venkatesh: and the list goes on and on. What about you Arjun?

Arjun Rao: I would definitely say traffic control is number one on my list especially at peak hours. It’s difficult to navigate through Bangalore. Also like to say that we have lots of problems with the sewage system and when we have even a small amount of rain we've a lot of flooding in low-lying areas. So I think these two issues should and can be fixed quite fast.

H R Venkatesh: As part of this Podcast we've been getting views from different Bangaloreans. As I said, you are both Kannadigas, so I wanted to ask you one question that seems to be top of mind everywhere...the number of immigrants coming into Bangalore, there are organisations asking for reservations for Kannadigas in jobs in the IT sector, do u have any views on this? Arjun I will start with you.

Arjun Rao: No I really don’t have any opinion on it as of now, so it is something I would like to read up a bit on.

H R Venkatesh: Mr Ramachandran?

G Ramachandran: I am a person totally against any kind of reservation based on language, or things like that but I agree that for lower types of jobs which require only minor mechanical skills, routine skills, it is obvious that local people should be employed. But where higher technical skill are employed I think a big churning up of the population is the way to go ahead. America is so prosperous because it is the immigrants who have brought prosperity to America, it is the talented people wherever they are.

In fact I would go a step further and say that if real talent could be tapped from abroad they should also be brought here and because of them fertilization takes place, pollination takes place in a community which is open and fresh ideas flow into the community when others come and put the proper seeds and then make it grow. No point in being insular and trying to avoid foreign ideas and outside ideas to come in. The way to progress is by opening up the society as much as possible.

H R Venkatesh: One final question we have had in the last four years a series of governments coming and going so would you say that you are hoping that whoever wins this time, it is a government which can form a majority on its own?

G Ramachandran: It looks at the moment that it is going to be a sticky verdict where you know there will be lots of horse trading going on....unless there is a government of absolute majority in place, it will be an unstable government.

When there is instability the temptation is great because like last time we had an experience of making a promise. That 6 months you rule, 6 months somebody else rules - these are not healthy signs of a democratic way of government. It is just power hunger that makes them accept such compromises. This is not the way to compromise and rule the country.

H R Venkatesh: And you Arjun?

Arjun Rao: Yeah I came in quite recently but I have seen this changing of coalition government and without a stable government, we are not going to get much done. So I am all for stability at the centre.

H R Venkatesh: Thanks both of you for coming in.

G Ramachandran: Nice being with you

Arjun Rao: Thank you.