It is quite natural for any political party to seek 'people's blessing' to come to power, but how about taking the divine course? That is what Janata Dal-Secular has chosen ahead of assembly polls in Karnataka.
The JD-S led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, who is known for visiting temples across the country and performing ceremonies of various kinds to reap divine blessing, is at it once again.
Gowda engaged a team of priests and performed special ceremonies, including night-long homam, to propitiate gods and to bestow power to his party and particularly his son, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, to occupy the chair he lost last year.
The ceremony, which was kept in wraps from even party leaders, commenced on Saturday evening in the party office under direct supervision of Gowda and his son, former minister H D Revanna.
Gowda's strict directions ensured that none of the partymen sneaks into the party office, ownership of which is already in dispute with Congress approaching the court to vacate JD-S from the premises.
Interestingly, Revanna, has also nurtured ambition to become chief minister, as he was upset that Kumaraswamy younger to him, ascended the throne in 2006, thanks to the political machinations of his father.
Confidants of the JD-S supremo said, Gowda chose the party office as the venue for the ceremony 'to ward off all evils and ensure the party comes back to power in the coming elections', expected to be held during May.
Kumaraswamy, whom Gowda has already deployed on a campaign trial, is expected to join his father and Revanna on Sunday night to be present during the ceremony, sources said.
Insiders also said Gowda was performing the ceremony for the good health of Kumaraswamy, who underwent an open heart surgery in December last year.
The former prime minister, who reaped bounty taking advantage of the fractured verdict thrown up by the 2004 assembly polls in the state, sharing power with Congress and BJP, whom he dumped unceremoniously, has been heavily banking upon the charisma of Kumaraswamy, to emerge once again as a key player in Karnataka politics.
Kumaraswamy has created his own fans club among a section of the society by undertaking village stays, about 43 during his 20-month tenure as chief minister and monetary assistance he doled out to poor.
Odds are heavy against JD-S at present as it has to counter attacks by BJP, which has been accusing it as party of betrayers for refusing to transfer power, in accordance with power sharing agreement and later to support the saffron party government and also a resurgent Congress.
Congress has already deployed former chief minister S M Krishna to lead the party in the coming elections and to reinstate the party into power.