Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 17 September 2026, visited the revered Sri Dattatreya temple at Ganagapur in Kalaburagi district and offered special prayers for good rainfall, agricultural prosperity, and the well-being of Karnataka's people. The visit, coinciding with the 79th Kalyana Karnataka Utsav, also saw the Chief Minister reaffirm his government's commitment to the phased development of the Ganagapur pilgrimage centre.

What the CM Prayed For

Speaking to the media after offering prayers, Shivakumar said he sought divine relief from the severe drought gripping several parts of the state. 'Ganagapur is one of the most sacred and prominent pilgrimage centres in South India. There is a strong belief that the wishes of devotees who visit this place are fulfilled,' he said.

Shivakumar acknowledged the personal significance of the shrine, noting that priests and devotees there had continuously prayed for him 'during my difficult times and throughout my journey of development.'

Pilgrimage Centre Development Plans

The state government has already announced an overarching plan for the development of the Ganagapur pilgrimage centre, including essential facilities for visiting devotees. Shivakumar said development works would be undertaken in phases, based on requests from the local legislator and the district in-charge minister. 'Based on the requests of the local MLA and the district in-charge minister, development works will be taken up in phases to ensure the overall development of the pilgrimage centre,' he stated.

Notably, Ganagapur is one of the most prominent Dattatreya pilgrimage destinations in peninsular India, associated with the saint Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami. The Nirgun Math and the sacred confluence of the Bhima and Amaraja rivers are among its key religious landmarks, drawing lakhs of devotees annually.

Drought and the Assembly Session

The Chief Minister used the occasion to address the drought situation directly, alleging that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had sidestepped a substantive discussion on the crisis during the recent Assembly session in favour of political point-scoring. He announced that a three-day special session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has been convened from 21 September specifically to deliberate on the drought situation across the state.

This comes amid widespread concern over deficient rainfall in parts of Karnataka, with farmers in several districts reportedly facing crop losses. A dedicated legislative session signals the scale of concern, though critics may watch closely to ensure the session yields concrete relief measures rather than remaining a procedural exercise.

Officials Present

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister Priyank Kharge, MLA M.Y. Allamprabhu Patil, Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation chairman Arun Kumar M.Y. Patil, and other officials and dignitaries during the temple visit.

With a special Assembly session now confirmed for 21 September, the government's response to Karnataka's drought will face its next major public test in the coming days.