Amit Shah visits Wadiyar family, Suttur seer in Mysuru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mysuru, Mar 30 2018 (DHNS): BJP National President Amit Shah visited the Amba Vilas palace in Mysuru on Friday morning and spent some time conversing with the members of the Wadiyar royal family -the rulers of erstwhile Mysore state.

Shah, who arrived in Mysuru at midnight on Thursday for campaigning, arrived at Amba Vilas palace at about 10.30 am.

He was welcomed with a Mysuru peta (turban) and handed a lotus flower.

The BJP chief spent some time speaking to the Wadiyar family members Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Yaduveer Wadiyar.

Union minister Anant Kumar, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, MP Pratap Simha, MLA C T Ravi and other local leaders were present.

Media people were not allowed into the palace when Shah was inside meeting the Wadiyars.

Amit Shah kicked off his two-day tour of Mysuru-Mandya-Chamarajanagar-Ramanagar belt by calling on the Suttur Mutt seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji here on Friday.

Mr. Shah who arrived at Mysuru on Thursday night, has a tight schedule with visits to slew of religious institutions like mutts and major temples including the Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud, Cheluvarauyswamy temple at Melukote besides interaction with booth level workers.

He also has a dinner meeting slated with prominent scheduled caste and scheduled tribe leaders later in the day in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts.

Mr. Shah’s visit to the Suttur Mutt is significant given the vast following commanded by the seer in what is a prominent Lingayat-Veerashaiva belt where the BJP has failed to win a single seat in the 2013 elections. Though the party functionaries described the visit as a courtesy call and the Suttur mutt is stated to be apolitical, the political parties cannot disregard its influence over the masses and hence cultivate cordial relationship.

Mr. Shah was accompanied by the party leaders including the Chief Ministerial candidate and State BJP president B.S.Yeddyurappa and Union Minister Ananth Kumar.