At last, Mr NR Narayana Murthy, the billionaire sage and founder of the wealth-generating machine Infosys, opened up on speculations that he would be the best possible candidate for the next president of India and said he was ready to take up the challenge if all political parties agreed.

A TV channel quoted him as saying on Thursday that it was too early to talk about his candidature for the next President of India but surely it would be a great honour to play that role.

“It is too early to comment on that as it all in the realm of speculation. No doubt it would be a great responsible role to play and I am ready to take up that role if all political parties agreed,” the channel quoted him as saying.

Murthy who retired officially from Infosys on August 20, 2011 at the age of 65 is now a venture capitalist. He is also chairman of the Public Health Foundation of India besides working as an adviser to several state and foreign governments.

He said several times in the past he was open to take up positions from where he could add value.

A leading Hyderabad newspaper however reported in its columns that Mr Murthy had made it clear that he was not throwing his hat into the ring for the presidential election.

Narayana Murthy told the daily that he only responded to the channel’s insistent reporter who asked whether he would accept the candidature for the next president of India if all political parties agreed.