Bengaluru: With Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy set to seek a confidence vote in the state assembly on Thursday, the rush to famous temples and pilgrimage spots has begun in right earnest with politicians of both the Congress-JD(S) coalition and the opposition BJP trying to make sure that nothing goes wrong just because they do not have the gods on their side. Special pujas and havans are the order of the day and leading the pack of temple hopping politicos is Public Works Department (PWD) Minister and the CM’s brother H.D. Revanna who, as someone jocularly remarked, has spent more time visiting temples than in the House after the resignation episode began!
Revanna after a visit to Sringeri and Chamundi Hills, conducted Mruthyunjaya homa at a Ganapati temple in Bengaluru and then hopped to Tirupathi to have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. Not to be left behind, workers of the BJP and JD(S) are holding special puja and havans in their respective districts. The JD(S) workers want the rebel lawmakers to return from Mumbai and support the trust vote while BJP workers are praying that their leader 'Raja Huli' (Mr Yeddyurappa) becomes CM again.
At Bookanakere village in Mandya district, the birthplace of Mr Yeddyurappa, a special puja and havan was conducted at Gogalamma temple under the supervision of his sister, Ms Prema. A team of five priests-headed by Mysuru-based Veda Brahma Shashidhar performed Ganapathi Homa, Navagraha Homa, Sudarshana Homa and Durga Homa besides special abhisheka for Goddess Gogalamma and Maha Shakthi Ganapathi.
Special pujas were also held at Sri Siddalingeshwara temple-the family deity of Mr Yeddyurappa in Gavi Matha. Mr Nanjundaswamy,a local BJP leader said it was a matter of honour for the district that a 'son of the soil' of Bhookanakere – Mr Yeddyuappa could become again.
The JD(S) ministers doing the rounds of temples include Co-Operation Minister Bandeppa Kashempur and Mr Venkatrao Nadagouda who visited Katti Maramma temple in Devananahalli and offered special prayers. The JD(S) workers of Kalaburgi organised a special puja at Dattatreya Temple-which the CM often visits- and prayed for the survival of the coalition government.
Fans of Mr Yeddyurappa held a special puja at Saibaba temple in Bidar.
