Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 5: The new managing committee of Goddess Mookambika temple at Kollur, formation of which had been pending since the last some years, came into being on Tuesday April 4. Harish Kumar M Shetty from Uppunda near Byndoor was elected as the president of newly formed managing committee of Goddess Mookambika temple, which happens to be one of the most famous pilgrimage centres of south India.

The government had recently nominated Vandaballi Jayaram Shetty, Ramesh Ganiga Kollur, Ambika Raju Devadiga, Rajesh Karanth, Jayanthi Vijayakrishna Padukone, Narasimha Haligeri, Dr Abhishek Pillai and chief priest of the temple, apart from Harish Kumar M Shetty Uppunda, as members of the new committee.

At the first meeting of the committee held on Tuesday at Jagadambika guest house in Kollur, election of the new president of the committee was held under the supervision of the commissioner of Udupi Urban Development Authority, Jagannath, who also happens to be the in-charge executive officer of the temple. The members chose the committee president through show of hands.

Initially, an objection was raised for convening the meeting on emergent basis. Thereafter, the manual of religious endowments fund was summoned with an explanation of it, after which the meeting continued. When the agenda of election of the new president for the temple committee was taken up, one of the members, Narasimha Halageri, proposed the name of Harish Shetty. This was seconded by Jayanthi Vijayakrishna. Another member, Ramesh Ganiga, proposed the name of Vandaballi Jayaram Shetty, which was seconded by Rajesh Karanth. In the election held following this process, six members expressed support for Harish Shetty, making him the new president of the temple managing committee.

On getting elected as president, Harish Shetty addressed a press conference. He said that he has been involved with social service and religious activities since his childhood. He expressed the belief that he was elected as temple president on account of good deeds done by Yadthare Manjaiah Shetty. He also pledged to strive for the development of the temple by getting support from all the nine members.

During the election process, Vandaballi turned his ire at Manjunath Adiga, who has been chosen as the chief priest. He pointed out that as per rules, Prabhakar Adiga should have become the chief priest. He alleged that this position has been bought by paying Rs 30 lac. It was also alleged that MLA, Gopal Poojary, who had pledged support for the candidature of Vandaballi Jayaram Shetty in the past, had overnight changed the stance in favour of Harish Shetty through a conspiracy after collecting two crore rupees.

When contacted over phone, MLA, Gopal Poojary said that the process of appointment has been made as per legal provisions. He said that he did not support the candidature of Vandaballi because of pending Lokayukta case against him and not for any other reason.