Siddaganga Mutt under the late Shivakumara Swami attracted top leaders from across the political spectrum in the past few decades. From the late Indira Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AICC president Rahul Gandhi, every politician of significance has visited the mutt.

Observers point out that it was post the 1970s that the mutt became popular for its efforts to feed and educate children. This attracted the attention of the political class.

According to sources in the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the seer himself did not lean towards any politician or party. “It was the politicians who approached the seer, not the other way round. As he was a highly respected seer in the State, especially among Lingayats, politicians were eager to send a signal to their electorate through their visits. Many politicians have, in fact, built their careers projecting themselves as close devotees of the mutt,” a source said.

Warring leaders come together

The occasion of paying respects to Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami saw top leaders of the ruling coalition and the Opposition BJP come together on Monday, even though they had been at loggerheads for the past 10 days over attempts to topple the Karnataka government.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa, and Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara were huddled together at the mutt, where the funeral plans were discussed. Home Minister M.B. Patil, senior Minister K.J. George from the Congress, and Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda from the BJP were also present.

Although there was no exchange of pleasantries, the leaders sat together and later addressed a press conference. Both camps had been unleashing verbal attacks on each other till Sunday.