On Wednesday, he said he would announce his decision on going ahead with his challenge to Kumaraswamy to repeat before the presiding deity at Dharmasthala his allegation that he had been approached by an intermediary representing the chief minister to stop levelling corruption charges against the latter.
As of Wednesday, Yeddyurappa would only confirm that he would be offering prayers to the presiding deity at Dharmasthala, Manjunatha, on the D-Day.
Addressing a press conference, Yeddyurappa said he had taken note of the advice by various religious heads to retreat from his challenge to Kumaraswamy.
He also said that only he would visit the temple, and not with any of his family members.
Gauntlet
It was Yeddyurappa who had challenged the JD (S) leader through an advertisement in the print media, to vouch before the Dharmasthala deity his charge that the chief minister had tried to purchase his silence through inducements and offer of political accommodation.
The chief minister had also challenged him to come to the temple with his family members.
“I will be inaugurating a host of developmental programmes at Kukke Subramanya on June 27. Prior to the inaugural programme, I will visit Dharmasthala to pay my obeisance.
I have taken note of the advice given to me by seers (on the truth test before the Almighty). I have great respect for them and will take an appropriate decision in this regard on the evening of June 26”, Yeddyurappa said.
A section of religious leaders, mainly Lingayat pontiffs are pressuring Yeddyurappa to drop his ‘truth test’ plan.
They are arguing that it would be improper to use the tradition of a truth test before the deity, and that it would set a bad precedent.
Oath taking unlikely: Pejawar
JD(S) State president Kumaraswamy and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa are likely to drop their truth test plan in Dharmasthala over graft charges, Vishweshateertha, pontiff of Pejawar Mutt, has said.
He told reporters in Bagalkot on Wednesday that Kumaraswamy spoke to him over the phone and clarified that he had only accepted the gauntlet thrown by Yeddyurappa to face the truth test.
Vishweshateertha has advised both the leaders against taking oath as it will have “adverse repercussions” on both the parties.
“Corruption is there in all states and Karnataka is no exception. But, leaders have to ensure transparency in administration,” the seer said.
