Prominent businessmen Jump into elections

India has a history of entrepreneurs seeking to walk the corridors of power, but not many have taken the electoral route, opting to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

This election has seen prominent businessmen or executives jump into the fray, largely spurred by a public resentment for traditional politicians following the 26 November terror attack in Mumbai.

But no state has seen a surge as in Andhra Pradesh shift from funding political parties to actually fighting the grime comes from a turn of heart.

• At least 19 entrepreneurs and executives of listed or privately held companies are contesting for Lok Sabha in AP
• The list doesn’t include smaller businessmen or contractors in the fray for the 294 assembly seats.
  
• Infrastructure moguls, film producers, media barons, software entrepreneurs—everyone is there, waving party flags, making speeches.
• founder-chairman of Lanco Group, L. Rajagopal Rao, Already a Congress member of Parliament
• film producer Vamshi Mohan, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate. Vijayawada
• Vice precident of ABN Amro: Meera Sanyal, executive vice-president and country head of investment bank ABN Amro Bank NV, has taken a sabbatical to fight the election as an independent candidate from Mumbai South, the seat of the November attacks.
• Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd, Bangalore: G.R. Gopinath, who pioneered low-fare airlines in India with Deccan Aviation Pvt. Ltd, contested from Bangalore South, also as an independent candidate.
• Four Soft Ltd :“giving back to society” according to Palem Srikanth Reddy, managing director of software firm Four Soft Ltd contesting the Kadapa constituency on a TDP ticket.
• He is taking on chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s son Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a Congress candidate and owner of a Telugu daily and a news channel, apart from cement and power plants.
• Madhucon Projects Ltd,TDP candidate Nama Nageswara Rao, managing director of Vs candidate in Khammam, Renuka Chowdhury
• Geetha Arts - Chairmen Allu Arvind
• Surya Telugu Daily chairman, N Surya Prakash Rao
• Progressive constructions Ltd, Chairman Kavuri Subba rao
• Jayalaxmi Group Chairma, Rayapati Sambasiva rao
• Sakshi Daily, TV : YS Jagan Mohan S/o CM of AP
• Vignan group , Chairman Lavu Rattaiah
• Nandi Group Chairman, SPY Reddy
• Balaji Group, Magunta Srinivasulu reddy
• Real estate, Malakondaiah yadav
• Visaka Industries, Dr G. vivekanand
• Jayabheri Group, & film personality Murali Mohan
• Gopala Krishna Granites & film personality U.V Krishnam Raju
• Color chips: Sudhish Rambotla
• VBC Group, MVSS Murthy
  
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http://www.livemint.com/2009/05/06002503/Andhra-entrepreneurs-seek-poli.html?h=A1
http://www.livemint.com/2009/05/06002503/28126AAD-8839-4F7A-AEAC-44E6CD29AE94ArtVPF.pdf