BENGALURU: Senior politician and former BJP functionary BJ Puttaswamy on Sunday was crowned pontiff of the newly inaugurated Thaileshwara Ganigara Mahasamsthana Mutt.
Puttaswamy, 83, was initiated into sanyasa or asceticism on May 6 and acquired the ascetic name Poornanandapuri Swami. He received deeksha from Jayendra Puri, seer of Kailasa Ashrama Mahasamsthana Mutt.
Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, housing minister V Somanna, BJP national general secretary CT Ravi and several other BJP functionaries attended Sunday’s ceremony.
The new mutt represents the backward caste of Ganigas and is located near Nelamangala. It has a community hall and students’ hostel.
Poornananda Swami said he renounced worldly pleasures for the welfare of the community, which has a population of around 13 lakh in Karnataka. “I had no desire to enjoy political power. I have always strived for the welfare of the poor and backward classes. I will continue to serve the Ganiga community,” he said.
A loyalist of Yediyurap pa, Puttaswamy was vicechairman, Karnataka Policy and Planning Commission. He entered active politics in 1983 and was elected to the upper house for second time in 2012 and was minister for cooperation durin g Jagadish Shettar’s regime.
