H D Kumaraswamy visits 40 temples in 82 days.

BENGALURU: A temple every alternate day. H D Kumaraswamy has set a record of visiting around 40 temples in his first 82 days as chief minister. Karnataka CM-elect Kumaraswamy visits Srirangam temple, says Congress has promised to support JD(S) for full term
Sources in the chief minister’s office (CMO) said Kumaraswamy had visited 34 temples as of Sunday assuming that it's since the office on May 23.

The visits began in thanksgiving for his comeback as CM and have picked up pace since. “Once in power, several chief ministers have sought the intervention and support of the almighty to tide over personal or political crises they face but Kumaraswamy has been exceptional,” says political analyst Sandeep Shastri.

The Karnataka CM appears to have overtaken his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who doubles as the head priest of Gorakhnath temple. On the other hand, he has stiff competition from his predecessor, BS Yeddyurappa, who went on a slew of temple visits after becoming CM in 2008, extending to Kerala and the Vaishno Devi shrine.

A JD(S) leader close to Kumaraswamy’s family said that “Former PM HD Deve Gowda’s family has strong faith in astrology and religious rituals ever since it entered the political arena. Kumaraswamy was an exception. But a series of health setbacks in the past few years has, perhaps, forced him to become religious.”
HDK braves rain and landslides to keep tryst with Lord Manjunatha

Accompanied by wife Anitha, father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, mother Channamma, the CM reached four-and a-half hours later. Kumaraswamy performed ‘sarva seve’ to presiding deity Lord Manjunatha accompanied by his family members and D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of the Sri Kshetra.

The CM and his family spent time at the temple’s sanctum sanctorum between 9pm and 9.45pm. Temple officials said Kumaraswamy prayed for the welfare of the state and thanked the almighty for the copious rainfall that Karnataka has received this monsoon.

Kumaraswamy, who took charge as CM on May 23, had visited the Sri Kshetra a day earlier.
Schools and colleges in DK, Udupi closed today
With the Met department predicting heavy rain in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the administrations declared a holiday for all primary, high school and pre university and degree colleges on Tuesday.