Shiroor Mutt pontiff files papers from Udupi

Shiroor Mutt Seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swami filed nomination as an Independent candidate from Udupi Legislative Assembly constituency on Saturday.

After offering prayers at Kadiyali Mahishamardini Temple, he directly went to the returning officer’s office and filed the nomination papers.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I was a BJP ticket aspirant. I had decided to contest for the sake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah. As I did not get the ticket, I am contesting as an Independent candidate. There is no question of withdrawing from the field. If Modi asks me to withdraw, then I will look into it. If elected, I will support Modi,” he said.

To a question on former MLA Raghupathy Bhat’s statement that ticket will be issued only to BJP members, the seer said, “I also belong to BJP. I have been voting for the party for the last 40 years.”

He said that he will start campaigning from April 24. “I am confident that Udupi voters will support me in the election,” he said.

The seer looked weak while performing puja at the temple. After filing the nomination papers, he took rest for sometime. Later, he went to hospital for treatment. “I was tired as I had participated in religious programmes continuously for two days,” he said.

Shiroor Mutt Seer is the first seer among the seers of the 'Udupi Ashta Mutts' to enter the electoral politics.