Somanna, Renuka bringing disrepute to mutts: Yatnal

He was speaking at a convention of the Youth JD(S) in the city on Wednesday. “The ministers visit the Siddaganga Mutt every other day and meet the seer. Even though the seer asks them not to visit the mutt frequently, they do not listen. They try to gain publicity saying they have the seer’s blessings,” Yatnal said.

“Four high class seers of the State have reserved themselves for Yeddyurappa. The second generation Lingayat seers are saying that the community people are having to hang their heads in shame because of Yeddyurappa’s actions. Hence, I am meeting only the second generation seers,” the JD(S) leader said.

Leaders sidelined

Yatnal charged Yeddyurappa with sidelining leaders like Basavaraj Patil Sedam, B B Shivappa and Mallikarjunaiah who had built the party.

The former chief minister is now trying to sideline Jagadish Shettar, S Shivanna, A Ramdas and Shankarlinge Gowda.

The Congress is virtually dead in the State, he said, adding that leaders of that party line up at Yeddyurappa’s doorsteps at nightfall. It is in this context that people were looking at Kumaraswamy with expectations, Yatnal said.