Seers should keep away from politics, warns HDK

Even as Vokkaliga seers, including Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchunagiri Mutt, have backed the chief ministerial aspirations of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that religious heads would do well to keep away from politics.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday, the JD(S) State president, who also belongs to the Vokkaliga community, said that religious heads need not interfere in the internal affairs of the Congress.

“No seer came to my rescue when I lost power. Seers and politicians have different jobs cut out for them. It is not a good trend to drag caste and religion into the political arena,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy, whose party is in alliance with the BJP. “I appeal to the seers not to bring religion or caste into the internal affairs of the Congress.”