Ahead of polls, candidates go all out to appease the gods

BENGALURU: BJP supporters may claim another Narendra Modi wave will sweep the state and the Congress-JD(S) alliance may reject that boast, but no one is leaving anything to chance. As parties finalise candidates for the polls, religious and spiritual fervour has taken hold as senior party leaders and candidates rush to seek divine intervention.
Astrologers and priests are in great demand as edgy prospective candidates flock to them to conduct superstitious rituals and seek celestial cues, including auspicious dates and time to submit their nominations.If chief minister HD Kumaraswamy launched his son’s campaign in Mandya after meeting an astrologer and visiting the family deity at Sringeri Mutt, independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh offered puja at a temple in Mandya before filing her nomination.
State BJP president BS Yeddyurappa and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje also visited the Sringeri Mutt to pay obeisance to the seers before hitting the campaign trial. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is known to scoff at rituals, has also turned devout, sources said. On Wednesday, Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar participated in a religious fair at Sri Bhakthamuneshwara temple in Magadi taluk, Ramanagara district.
Candidates aren’t discounting any religion either. “Muslim candidates visit numerologists and astrologers during election time,” said a Congress leader. “They are advised methods in line with their faith. And it is not just temples that matter. If you are fighting an election in constituencies like Kalaburagi, Bidar or Dakshina Kannada which are dominated by minorities, you have to be seen at masjids and churches. It sends the right signal to the masses, most of whom are deeply religious.”
Politicians in the Old Mysuru region make it a point to visit Suttur and Siddaganga mutts before hitting the campaign trail. In Haveri, North Karnataka, candidates don woolen blankets and, armed with a stick, spend an entire day grazing sheep as they believe it brings them good luck. Several politicians including Haveri MP Shivakumar Udasi and Shiggaoan MLA Basavaraj Bommai have followed this ritual.
At Shirahatti in Gadag district, candidates also make a beeline to a gigantic tamarind tree as they believe it brings them good luck. In coastal districts, candidates make offerings to the demigods before filing nominations. ‘Shatrusamhara’ or ‘Pratyangira homa’ are performed to eradicate enemies and evil forces so that candidates are not affected by any kind of black magic.