Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who had backed out of the temple face-off with H.D. Kumaraswamy, today offered prayers at the shrine here while the JDS leader took an oath affirming his allegations of corruption against the former.
Yeddyurappa, who had challenged Kumaraswamy to prove the allegations of corruption and nepotism against him by taking the truth test before a deity, had later retracted saying that religious leaders and BJP President Nitin Gadkari had asked him not to mix politics with religion.
After offering prayers at the temple, the Chief Minister said, "I did not ask anything for myself. On behalf of six crore people of the state I sought blessings of Lord Manjunatha for the prosperity of Karnataka."
He said he had prayed for copious rains and prosperity of the state. "In the last three years, the state has been witnessing bountiful rains and prosperity with the blessings of gods. I want this to continue for another two years," the Chief Minister said.
Kumaraswamy, who visited the shrine later, pledged before the deity that he stood by the charges made by him against the Chief Minister in the last six to seven months.
"After offering worship, I submitted to God that whatever I told the media on June 14 about Yeddyurappa sending his emissary to strike a compromise to refrain against further exposure of his corrupt deeds, is 100 per cent true..," he told reporters outside the temple.
Kumaraswamy lashed out at Yeddyurappa for "reneging" on his challenge and termed him a "betrayer" for "dragging Manjunatheshwara (Lord Manjunatha) into a political battle".
Gadkari had advised Yeddyurappa that it was not appropriate to use religious places, especially temples, for politics and to drop his plan to take the truth test before a deity.