And still counting: H D Kumaraswamy visits 40 temples in 82 days as chief minister

BENGALURU: H D Kumaraswamy has set a record visiting around 40 temples in his first 82 days as chief minister — a temple every alternate day.

Sources in the chief minister’s office (CMO) said Kumaraswamy had visited 34 temples as of Sunday since assuming office on May 23. On Monday, he visited Eshwar temple at Haradanahalli and four other temples in Holenarasipura taluk of Hassan district before heading to Kukke Subramanya and Dharamasthala temples. Besides, Kumaraswamy has made at least six visits to popular mutts, including Adichunchanagiri in Mandya, Suttur in Mysuru and Siddaganga of Tumakuru.

The visits began in thanksgiving for his comeback as CM and have picked up pace since. “Once in power, several chief ministers have sought the intervention and support of the almighty to tide over personal or political crises they face but Kumaraswamy has been exceptional,” says political analyst Sandeep Shastri.

The Karnataka CM appears to have overtaken his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who doubles as the head priest of Gorakhnath temple. On the other hand, he has stiff competition from his predecessor, BS Yeddyurappa, who went on a slew of temple visits after becoming CM in 2008, extending to Kerala and the Vaishno Devi shrine.

A JD(S) leader close to Kumaraswamy’s family said: “Former PM HD Deve Gowda’s family has strong faith in astrology and religious rituals ever since it entered the political arena. Kumaraswamy was an exception. But a series of health setbacks in the past few years has, perhaps, forced him to become religious.”


HDK braves rain & landslides to keep tryst with Lord Manjunatha

Incessant rain coupled with landslips delayed chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s visit to Dharmasthala on Monday.

Accompanied by wife Anitha, father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, mother Channamma, the CM reached four-anda-half hours late.

The landslip along Shirady Ghat at Sakleshpur forced the family to take a circuitous detour via Charmadi Ghat and reach the temple town at 9pm. The CM visited several temples and attended a function in his home district Hassan prior to his arrival.

Kumaraswamy performed ‘sarva seve’ to presiding deity Lord Manjunatha accompanied by his family members and D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of the Sri Kshetra.

The CM and his family spent time at the temple’s sanctum sanctorum between 9pm and 9.45pm. Temple officials said Kumaraswamy prayed for the welfare of the state and thanked the almighty for the copious rainfall that Karnataka has received this monsoon. Kumaraswamy, who took charge as CM on May 23, had visited the Sri Kshetra a day earlier.

Schools and colleges in DK, Udupi closed today

With the Met department predicting heavy rain in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the administrations declared a holiday for all primary, high school and preuniversity and degree colleges on Tuesday. The Udupi and DK deputy commissioners’ offices said as the Met department has predicted rainfall in excess of 155mm in the next 24 hours, schools and PU colleges will be closed.