Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (RJP)

Kundapur, Apr 23: Senior BJP leader Eshwarappa showed his political might in a different way by leading a pilgrimage of women. He was the brain behind the visit of 4,500 women members of Sri Marikamba Micro Finance from Shivamogga to Kollur Mookambika temple on Saturday April 23 and Sunday April 24 as part of their mega pilgrimage.

Eshwarappa gave details of the Sri Marikamba Micro Finance and said how, with the help of Rs 13.50 crore loan, more than 4,500 women members had transformed their lives. In an indirect message to his party colleague as well as adversary B S Yeddyurappa, he also openly proclaimed that all those women had stood by him. Incidentally both belong to the same district, Shivamogga.

The women and Eshwarappa arrived in the temple town on Saturday and visited the temple early in the morning of Sunday and performed puja. Eshwarappa and his son Kanthesh participated in the Chandika yaga.

Eshwarappa said that the Sri Marikamba Micro Finance also conducted health camps for around 10,000 people. The women members are on a pilgrimage of many temples which include, Banavasi, Murdeshwar, Anegudde and Udupi, he revealed. He said they will meet Pejawar Swamiji during their Udupi visit.

Eshwarappa said, during BJP regime Kollur temple had received many grants while it was not the same case during the present Congress rule. He urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to provide more help to the temple town with more emphasis on improved drainage system, drinking water facility and street lights.

Eshwarappa who started his anti-Yeddyurappa campaign by forming Sangolli Rayanna Brigade has intensified his tirade against Yeddyurappa by attacking him from the grassroot level. The present pilgrimage is one among them, it is believed.

Eshwarappa has made Shivamogga Byndoor constituency represented by Yeddyurappa and Chikkamagaluru-Udupi constituency represented by Shobha Karandlaje as his battle ground.