Subodhanand takes charge as chairman of MP govt's temple body

Flanked by Congress veteran Digvijay Singh and his minister-son Jaivardhan, spiritual leader Swami Subodhanand Tuesday took charge as chairman of the Math Mandir Salahkar Samiti, an advisory body set up by the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

In its manifesto for the 2018 November assembly polls, the Congress, then in opposition, had promised to constitute Math Mandir Salahkar Samiti to look after temples and maths (monasteries) if voted to power in the state.

Subodhanand, secretary of the Shankaracharya of Dwarka -Sharda peeth, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, Narsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh, was appointed chairman of the samiti in March.

The samiti has been tasked with the responsibility of resolving issues related to management and upkeep of temples and maths.

Swaroopanand Saraswati is the spiritual guru of Digvijay Singh and is considered close to the Congress.

Subodhanand took charge of the samiti at a function organised in the Mantralaya (secretariat) here.

Besides Digvijay Singh and his son, Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Minister P C Sharma was also present when Subodhanand took charge of the post, Congress sources said.

The Congress came to power in the state after a gap of 15 years.