Yeddyurappa seeks divine help to ward off detractors

Yeddyurappa, who had been going through one crisis after another in his two years in power, performed 'Sathru Samhara Yagam' to ward off troubles from detractors at the Lord Subramanyaswamy temple in Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district yesterday, temple sources said.

The chief minister, who recently emerged triumphant after BJP leadership decided to allow him to continue after toying with the idea of directing him to step down in the wake of charges of nepotism in land denotifications, told reporters that he performed the yagna "for the welfare of people."

JD-S leader H D Devegowda, whose son H D Kumaraswamy is spearheading the campaign to oust Yeddyurappa, had performed the yagna in the temple several years ago, they said.

Yeddyurappa claimed that he would complete his five year term as chief minister and the same government would be in office for next 10 years. In the past two years, nearly 1.2 crore people had benefited by way of welfare measures launched by the BJP government, he added.

Later yesterday, Yeddyurappa offered prayers at the famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai.

He said ties between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were cordial and he was in regular touch with his counterpart M Karunanidhi."There are no differences between the two states and we are having a very good relationship," he said.

The two neighbouring states are locked in a dispute over sharing of Cauvery river water.
A frequent temple visitor and a generous donor, Yeddyurappa announced Rs one crore grant for a guest house being built by the Tiruchendur temple.

At the height of the political crisis last month when BJP leadership contemplated removing him from his post Yeddyurappa had rushed to Vaishodevi temple in Jammu to pray for his continuance as Karnataka Chief Minister besides seeking the blessings of Sri Satya Sai Baba.