To woo Shaiv voters of Karnataka, PM, BJP CMs to visit Kedarnath

With an eye on crucial Karnataka assembly elections, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of Chief Ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled States are expected to attend the ceremony of opening of portals of Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand on April 29. Karnataka, a very important State in the BJP’s game plan for its southward expansion goes to polls on May 12. The State where Hindus constitute about 84 per cent of total population has a powerful presence of Shaivite community. The expected presence of PM and CMs of BJP ruled States in Kedarnath temple which is one of the most revered shrines of Lord Shiva in the country on the auspicious occasion of opening of its portals would surely give a message to lakhs of Shaivites in Karnataka just days before it goes for polls. Lingayats are the most prominent Shaivites in Karnataka as they constitute 17 per cent of the population of the State and hold sway in about 100 seats in 224 member State assembly.

It is worth mentioning here that to woo this politically influential community which was expected to support B S Yeddyurappa (also a Lingayat leader) led BJP in the ensuing polls, the State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a surprising move, considered as a master stroke by many accepted the proposal to grant minority status to Lingayats. To counter this move of the Congress party, the BJP leaders are visiting top Lingayat Mutths to seek the blessings of their religious leaders and have fielded its Hindutva poster boy and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in campaigning. Political pundits believe that congregation of all BJP ruled states CMs alongside the PM at Kedarnath would further propagate a pro Hindutva image of the saffron outfit and is a definite attempt to woo the Shaiv voters of Karnataka.

PM Modi is an acknowledged and ardent follower of Lord Shiva. Immediately after the disaster of 2013, Modi who was then Chief Minister of Gujarat had offered help in reconstruction of the Kedarnath temple. This offer however was rejected by the Congress ruled State Government at that time. After the BJP formed Government in the Himalayan State, massive reconstruction work started  to make a ‘different and modern Kedarpuri’ as per the intention of PM Modi who has made it a point to visit the temple located at an elevation of about 11000 feet in the lofty Garhwal Himalayas twice last year.

To welcome Modi and other guests the State Government would organise a grand extravaganza on the opening day which includes a LASER show.