Mangalore : Former Union Minister B Janardhana Poojary rendered a condolence message to the family of Former Karnataka Chief Minister Sarekoppa Bangarappa, who died early this morning at a private hospital in Bangalore following a brief illness.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on December 26, Monday, he said that Bangarappa was a socialist and had worked for various developmental programmes for the poor and farmers. He had also distributed water pump sets to the farmers at free of cost, during his term as the chief minister.

Poojary also said that he had a good relation Bangarappa for nearly four decades in the political career. Even after having many political clashes, the friendship did not last. He was the only political leader who was recommended to be the state president of Congress post by the Late Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He said that Bangarappa has supported for the renovation of Shri Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple. When Bangarappa went out of party to the difference of opinion raised, but it did not affect the friendship.

Bangarappa’s sudden death is the loss to State politics, poor and farmers and his family. He built different political parties for 2 to 3 times. The congress party also defeated, when Bangarappa quit the party. Some percentages of votes were personally gained for his personal identity, he added.

Explaining about the centennial celebration of Shri Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Poojary said that the Temple management will hold a ceremony for the 5000 married women on January 1, 2012, who will take oath in front of the god to keep their Mangalasutra around their neck as a symbol of love, even after their husband’s death.

He said that the event will start at 3 pm with the chandika homa and the married women will take pull the silver chariot placed with idol around the temple premises. Later they will be distributed with sari, blouse piece, bangles, kumkum (vermillion) and flowers, he said.

Commenting on the Made Madasnana, he said that the temple will organize urulu seve one at the temple during Navaratri, where devotees can perform urulu seve on the marble floor cleaned with soap and dettol, he informed.

Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal Temple president H S Sairam were present at the press meet.