BSY close confidant B J Puttaswamy announces decision to embrace asceticism

Bengaluru: Former minister and Deputy chairman of Karnataka Planning Commission B J Puttaswamy has decided to lead a life of an ascetic (Sanyasi). Puttaswamy himself revealed his decision to embrace asceticism and become a seer of the Ganiga community.

The 82-year-old politician said he will take the vows of asceticism on May 6 to become a seer. On May 15, he will be coronated as the first pontiff of the Shri Kshetra Thaleshwara Ganiga Mahasamsthana Matha in Madanaikana Halli in Bengaluru.

Puttaswamy said he will resign from the post of Deputy Chairman of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission before taking the vows.

Puttaswamy is a close confidant of BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa.

It is gathered that political bigwigs from across party lines — including CM Basavaraj Bommai, BS Yediyurappa, Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy — have received an invitation to the coronation ceremony.