Kerala Assembly Election: They hop across borders, seeking blessings

KOZHIKODE: Candidates in Manjeshwaram and Kasargod constituencies in Kasargod district need not only to satisfy the local religious heads but also the many priests across the border in Karnataka as several churches and temples in their constituencies have their headquarters located in nearby Mangalore.

There are nine churches of the Mangalore diocese in the constituency and three in Kasargod. Hence candidates rush to Mangalore and Udupi to seek the blessings of religious heads staying in Karnataka. “As a constituency situated on the border, we have to visit every religious heads, and that’s natural, too. said CPM candidate C.H. Kunjambu. “I have already visited Mangalore Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza.”

Another important figure across the border constituency is Pejavar mutt seer of Udupi Vishwa Theertha Swami. Pejavar mutt is one of the prominent religious centres of Tulu-speaking people as one of the eight Ashta mutts.

“We seek the blessings of all religious heads irrespective of whether there is an election or not,” said K. Sreekanth, BJP Kasargod district president. “Pejavar mutt has a prominent place for the people of Kasargod and the BJP candidates should call on him.”  CPM leaders, however, were firm on not approaching Pejavar seer saying he known as an RSS supporter.

Another revered figure in Kasargod is Sringeri Mutt chief and the head of the Avala Mutt in Bayar, which is a sub-centre of Sringeri. “Though we seek the blessings and goodwill of all religious heads, there is no point in visiting all of them,” said an IUML leader, who wished no to b named.

In 2003, IUML leader Cherkalam Abdulla had stirred a hornet’s nest by wearing a tilak on his forehead during his visit to Avala Mutt as a minister.