'The reforms that have taken place so far are very cosmetic'

"Why should you congratulate me only? Arre, this is your victory too. After all, I am going to represent you."

"Yes, yes, I need your help and your good wishes."

People constantly traipsed in and out; the family, exasperated by the constantly ringing of the door bell, finally left the door ajar.

Prabhu's wife, Uma, a journalist at The Times Of India, was holding on to sanity with a lean thread. " I actually took leave because my son's exams are on. He's in the fourth standard. But now I have to accompany my husband to Rajapur. I have to find someone who will take my son to school and bring him back every day."

Prabhu's mother, a frail, gentle lady, commandeered the kitchen and plied visitors with tea and sweets. " I didn't want my son to do this," she confesses with a wry smile. "Present-day politics is something no decent person should be associated with. The old days, when politicians really worked for the benefit of the people, no longer exist."

Prabhu himself was attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to bring some order into the turmoil that had suddenly invaded his busy, if relatively peaceful, life. Which, till then, only meant juggling his time between his banking responsibilities, directorships of a number of companies, chairmanships of various organisations and 30-odd honorary posts in various social, professional, cultural and international organisations.

He had just returned from a business trip to Southeast Asia on March 25 when he was approached by Udhav Thackeray, the Sena supremo's son, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. They wanted him as the Sena candidate for the Rajapur seat.

Why did Prabhu, one of the most high-profile bankers in the country, plunge into politics? He revealed his mind in a conversation with Rediff On The NeT Senior Feature Writer Savera R Someshwar:

What made you decide to contest an election?

To tell you the truth, the thought of standing for elections had never crossed my mind. I was extremely surprised when Udhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Manohar Joshi spoke to me.

I was in Southeast Asia on a business trip and returned only on the night of March 25. They approached me as soon as I reached Bombay.

Which meant that you did not have much time to think about the Sena proposal?

That's true. But, like every Indian citizen, I have always been concerned about the state of affairs that prevail in the country. Everyone talks about the problems that confront us; we talk about how our house is in disorder. Now, we need to act.

Personally speaking, I had already come to a conclusion that the country was in bad shape and that something needed to be done about this. I'm trying to do my bit by entering politics.

Do you know why the Shiv Sena focused on you as a candidate?

I have no idea. But the Sena has been looking for candidates who would project the image of the party in a proper manner as well as represent the party properly in Parliament. They realise that national interests are more important than partisan interests.

Would you have agreed to represent the Congress if they had approached you first?

The question is extremely hypothetical; I don't have an answer. I honestly don't know what I would have done had the Congress approached me. I did not even have time to think over the Sena proposal, so there is absolutely no question of thinking of other such situations.

What are the things that appeal to you about the Shiv Sena?

Their policy of national interest, for example. The Sena tackles issues of national interest, overriding partisan interests. Besides, the Shiv Sena has the courage to implement non-populist measures -- like cleaning up Bombay, for instance.