Former minister B J Puttaswamy embraces asceticism, becomes Poornanandapuri Swami

Team Udayavani, May 7, 2022, 11:57 AM IST

Credit: IANS photo

Bengaluru: Former minister and Deputy chairman of Karnataka Planning Commission B J Puttaswamy on Friday embraced ascetic (Sanyasi) and became a seer of the Ganiga community.

The 82-year-old politician was initiated into sanyas or ascetism by Jayendra Puri, seer of the Kailasa Ashrama Mahasamsthana Mutt. Earlier yesterday (May 6) Puttaswamy bid adieu to worldly affairs and took the vows of celibacy. On May 15, he will be coronated as the first pontiff of the Shri Kshetra Thaleshwara Ganiga Mahasamsthana Matha in Madanaikana Halli in Bengaluru.

Puttaswamy had served as a minister in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet. Puttaswamy was known for his proximity to former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.