<p>Bengaluru: Pontiff Kumara Chandrashekharanatha Swami, who headed the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana mutt that was backed by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, died late on Friday night. </p><p>His last rites were conducted on Saturday afternoon, attended by Gowda, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and others.</p>.<p>The seer’s last rites were carried out by his successor Nischalanandanatha Swami. </p><p>Last year, the late pontiff had publicly asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign and make way for Shivakumar, a fellow Vokkaliga. Also last year, the pontiff had to face a police case after he called for disenfranchising Muslims to end votebank politics in India.</p>.<p>He later publicly expressed regret for it.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Pontiff Kumara Chandrashekharanatha Swami, who headed the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana mutt that was backed by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, died late on Friday night. </p><p>His last rites were conducted on Saturday afternoon, attended by Gowda, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and others.</p>.<p>The seer’s last rites were carried out by his successor Nischalanandanatha Swami. </p><p>Last year, the late pontiff had publicly asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resign and make way for Shivakumar, a fellow Vokkaliga. Also last year, the pontiff had to face a police case after he called for disenfranchising Muslims to end votebank politics in India.</p>.<p>He later publicly expressed regret for it.</p>
