Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has decided to donate the silver gifts presented to him by the public and his supporters to Male Mahadeshwara Swamy Temple in Chamarajanagar.

Presiding over the Temple Development Authority meeting at Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills recently, the CM sought to know whether the silver items he had received as gifts could be donated to make a silver chariot for the temple.

Temple authorities have proposed to make a silver chariot, for which about 400 kgs of silver was required. During discussion, Siddharamaiah asked whether he can donate to the temple the silver items he had received as gifts.

The Chief Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Temple Development Authority, had received a number of silver items including mace and crown from the people. The temple already has about 800 kg of silver items that had been received as donation from devotees. The temple will accept donations from devotees as many are coming forward to offer silver items for the chariot.

The CM’s interest in making the donation is to silence critics that he (Congress in particular) is anti-Hindu. While All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi, during his tours, makes it a point now-a-days to visit at least couple of temples to eat into BJP’s share of Hindu votes, Siddharamaiah too is playing the religion card to garner Hindu votes.  While his critics have questioned his “newly-found love for temples,” Siddharamaiah’s supporters feel that playing the religion card will pay dividends for Congress in the run up to the forthcoming Assembly elections. His decision to donate silver to the temple will boost the party’s image as the temple has lakhs of devotees, including Veerashaivas and Lingayats, say his loyalists.