Basavanand Swami, seer of Sri Guru Basava Mahamane at Managundi in Dharwad district, has begun an awareness campaign on patriotism and is keen on getting the BJP ticket for contesting from Kalaghatagi Assembly constituency.

The seer, who is visually impaired, said he had already completed a “Desha Bhakti Jagruti Abhiyana”, which he had started on January 1 under which he had travelled 2,900 kilometres in Kalaghatagi constituency, focussing on patriotism, Swachh Bharat, water conservation, organic farming and anti-corruption campaign.

He said he had now begun the second phase of the awareness campaign, which would go on until the tickets were announced.

He said the practice of seers or pontiffs entering the election fray was not a new thing and there had been many precedents. “I was inspired by Prime Miniser Narendra Modi and that’s why I have sought ticket from Bharatiya Janata Party”, he said clarifying that if he does not get it, he would continue what he had been doing since the ashram was set up 15 years ago.

He did not find anything in the BJP that contradicted Basavanna’s ideology.