INDIA, May 10, 2018 (Times of India): Karnataka’s mutts (monastic centers, ashrams) are power centers, each followed by a particular caste and can swing votes of entire communities. Though mutts claim they stay away from politics, most leaders endorse candidates for elections. Not just religious centres, they also run educational institutions, hospitals, orphanages, and are central to community life. Both Congress and BJP leaders packed mutt visits into the campaign trail. For an extensive list of mutts and their significance, see “source” above.
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