While Congress leaders were busy on Sunday attempting to woo back rebel MLAs, Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna was visiting temples in the coastal districts to seek divine intervention to save the coalition government.
Mr. Revanna’s temple run commenced from Anegudde (Kumbhasi) in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district on Sunday morning. Anegudde is the abode of Lord Vinayaka.
Though taken by surprise by his unannounced visit, the temple management welcomed the Minister and his team. After offering prayers there, Mr. Revanna then proceeded to Hattiyangadi, another pilgrimage centre in taluk.
Later, he went to Kollur and offered prayers to goddess Mookambika.
He then visited temples in Dakshina Kannada district.
Blames journalists
When a few photojournalists and video journalists were clicking his pictures and recording video inside Sri Durgaparameshwari temple at Kateel in the afternoon, an upset Mr. Revanna took them to task. Stating that everything was because of them [journalists], the Minister forcibly got the video footage and pictures removed from the cameras, said a video journalist.
Later, he proceeded to Dharmasthala to offer prayers to Lord Manjunatha. In his brief interaction with reporters, the Minister said the government came to power “with the blessings of the almighty” and its survival too “depends on the god”. Later, he proceeded towards Hassan.
Senior Public Works Department engineers, including Superintending Engineer B.T. Kantharaj, accompanied Mr. Revanna.