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Udupi, (The Hindu): Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt said on Sunday that he was still expecting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to field him from Udupi Assembly Constituency for the Assembly elections. However, should the BJP not give ticket, he was firm on contesting as an independent candidate, he said.
If the Shiroor seer contests the elections, he would be the first among the seers of the Astha Mutts of Udupi with a history of 800 years propagating Dwaita philosophy, to do so.
About a fortnight ago, Shobha Karandlaje, MP, had said that the party was unlikely to give ticket to any seers in the State.
Speaking to presspersons at the launch of his campaign after offering prayers at the Lord Balarama Temple at Malpe here, the seer said that the process of survey and discussions to select the right candidate in all the constituencies was still on in the BJP. But he was committed to contesting the Assembly elections either as a BJP candidate or as an independent, he said.
He said that in the first phase of the campaign, he would only be going around Udupi Assembly Constituency and urging the voters to come out in large numbers and vote. The voter turnout in Udupi Assembly Constituency ranged from 60 % to 70 %. He wanted it to be 90 % to 100 %. “A good voter turnout would lead to the selection of a good candidate,” he said.
The second phase of his campaign would start only after the political parties declare the names of their candidates for Udupi constituency. The rural areas of the Constituency required more development. If elected, he would focus on developing rural areas, he said.
On Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt taking a neutral stand on his announcement to contest elections, the seer said that the Pejawar seer was like his elder brother. He was happy with whatever the Pejawar seer said. “I have God’s support. I am confident that the other seers of the Ashta Mutts too would eventually support me,” he said.
When it was pointed out that the number of people at the launch of his campaign was poor, the seer said: “You see it (the number of people) later on.”
On whether Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj had contacted him, the seer replied in the negative.
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