Mangaluru: Seeking good health for Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary offered a special pooja to the deity in Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple on Monday, February 3, before announcing that he would not step into the temple again if Sonia Gandhi does not recover within the next three days.

It can be noted that Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, owing to health issues that prevented her from attending the first day of the budget session in Parliament on Saturday, February 1. On learning about Sonia Gandhi’s illness, Poojary decided to offer a special pooja at Kudroli temple on Monday. He was seen tearing up as he sought good health for Sonia Gandhi.

Poojary recalled that Sonia Gandhi was a devotee of Kudroli temple and she had paid a visit to the temple during the centenary celebrations held in 2012. “She (Sonia Gandhi) used to visit the temple whenever she came to the city. As no one has the power to recover her, Lord Manjunatha should immediately come and rescue her. If Sonia Gandhi does not recover within three days, I won’t step into the temple thereafter,” he stressed.

It can be recalled that Poojary had issued a similar statement during the Lok Sabha elections as well. While supporting Congress Lok Sabha candidate Mithun Rai, Poojary had announced that he would not enter Kudroli and Mangaladevi temple if Mithun Rai does not secure a victory in the election. However, Mithun Rai was terribly defeated by Nalin Kumar Kateel, who became an MP from the district for the third time. Later, Poojary sought an apology before the deity and entered the Kudroli temple.