BENGALURU: The colour of the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, likely to held in April-May next year, could well be saffron. Taking a cue from

’s coronation as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, about half a dozen swamijis in Karnataka are preparing to dive into active politics.

Some of the seers who have made no bones of their desire to contest polls are Sri Rajashekarananda Swamiji of Gurupura Vajradehi Mutt near Mangaluru, Sri Basavananda Swamiji of Sri Guru

at Managundi in Dharwad district and

of Sri Shiva

in Chitradurga district.

Several swamijis in Karnataka are preparing to hit the frontline in politics. Inspired by Yogi Adityanath’s coronation as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, at least half-a-dozen seers in Karnataka have decided to renounce the ‘backroom political operators’ label and jump right into the fray in the forthcoming assembly elections.

From hobnobbing with powerful political leaders, to making fiery speeches, to expanding their social outreach programmes, saffronclad seers are doing all they can to ensure they secure a pollticket.

Some of the seers who have had no qualms in revealing their desire to dabble in politics are Sri Rajashekarananda Swamiji of Gurupura Vajradehi Mutt near Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district, Sri Basavananda Swamiji of Sri Guru Basava Mahamane at Managundi in Dharwad district and Sri Madara Chennaiah Swamiji of Sri Shiva Sharana Madara Guru Peeta in Chitradurga district. Political analysts say that a majority of these seers are clamouring for a BJP ticket although the ruling Congress has been making attempts to ensure that they either remain neutral or are trying to rope them in.

Sri Basavananda, Sri Madara Chennaiah and Sri Rajashekarananda are among those keen on entering the fray.

Basavananda, who is keen on contesting from the economically backward Kalaghatagi constituency on a BJP ticket, is confident of making the grade. His Facebook page has photographs of him standing next toPrime Minister Narendra Modi and state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa. Should he contest, he will face mining baron and labour minister, Santosh S Lad, in Kalaghatgi. The swamiji is known in the area for his service in the fields of education, health and animal welfare and has thousands of followers.

On why seers want to wade into the choppy waters of politics, Basavananda told TOI: “If politicians are not following the principles of goodness and working for the peoplewhy shouldn’t weenter politics? Nowadays, politics has become synonymous with everything that is bad. I want to show that politics can be clean.” Basavananda, who claimed Modi is his inspiration, insisted that he will not enter the fray if denied a BJP ticket.

In the coastal region, the BJP is considering fielding a pontiff whose discourses are laced with hardline Hindutva messages much like Adityanath. Sri Rajashekarananda Swami, who reportedly enjoys the support of local Sangh Parivar leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat fits the bill. Known for his fiery speeches and his support for cow vigilantism, Rajashekarananda is being seen as someone who can galvanise the BJP in the communally sensitive coastal districtsof Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada.

Rajashekarananda, who recently held a round of talks with central BJP leaders, told media: “My followers would wonder why I shouldn’t jump into politics. We then began discussions and I received a positive response. Hindu dharma is my strongest foundation and I am ready tocontestfrom any constituency.”

In the central Karnataka, Chitradurga’s Sri Madara Chennaiah Swamiji continues to play his cards close to his chest though the political grapevine is that he will contest on a BJP ticket. While BJP leaders Yeddyurappa and KS Eshwarappa have visited his mutt in recent times, sources said CM Siddaramaiah and social welfare minister H Anjaneya are alsobaiting him. Madara maintained: “I have good rapport with all the political parties, but I have not taken a decision yet.”

Sources in the BJP said there are four other swamijis who are sending feelers to party leaders expressing interest in contesting in the upcoming polls. Meanwhile, the Congress is also trying to explore the rift in the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in NorthKarnataka and isscouting for Lingayat seers who will fight against BJP.