Udupi pontiff expresses desire to jump into electoral politics

A pontiff of one of the 'Ashta (eight) Mathas' of Udupi today expressed his intention to enter electoral politics during the coming assembly polls in Karnataka, saying the system "is not right."
"My intention is not politics. I have planned to contest as an independent candidate....the reason is the system here is not right, I want to contest with an intention that it should be right," Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji, pontiff of the Shiroor Matha, said.
"I have seen the problems, no political entity has been able to correct it...," he told reporters at Hiriyadka in Udupi.
The swamiji has expressed his intention to contest theelection from Udupi constituency as an independent candidate.

However, if BJP gives him a ticket, he said "I willhappily accept it."
"If they (BJP) don't give, I have decided to contest asan independent candidate," he added.

Responding to a question, he said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was his role model.
Adityanath is the head priest of Gorakhnath Temple inGorakhpur.
Shiroor Matha (institute) is one among the Ashta Mathas of Udupi, which were established by 13th century philosopher, Madhwacharya, who founded the Dvaita (dualism) school of Vedanta.
Madhwacharya appointed eight of his direct disciples as head of each Matha that were established in eight villages around the Udupi Krishna Temple.

During the Paryaya, a religious ritual that takes place every alternate year, the puja and administration of Krishna Matha is distributed among the swamijis of Ashta Mathas.