"Rahul Gandhi will become PM," predicted a seer at the Karnataka Mutt..."

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, would become prime minister, according to a seer at a Lingayat seminary in Karnataka, but the head seer intervened and put a condition to the blessing.

Haveri Hosamutt Swami, a seer present at Mr. Gandhi's meeting with the seers at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in Chitradurga, made reference to Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhiji, both of whom served as prime ministers, and predicted that Rahul Gandhi would also follow them and become the prime minister, after receiving initiation into the Lingayat sect.

The institution's president, Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, intervened and added, "Do not say this, please. Not the platform here. People will make choices."

At a meeting of the political affairs committee for the state unit on Tuesday night, Rahul Gandhi attempted to address this by pleading with the leaders to cooperate and refrain from making public statements, as per PTI report.

Later, KC Venugopal, the party's general secretary, told reporters: "There is absolutely no leadership problem. Additionally unacceptable is individual opinion. After winning, the party's new MLAs and high command will choose the leader."