Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah has formally rejected allegations of mismanagement and procedural lapses during the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations. These claims were previously raised by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, a representative of the city's erstwhile royal family, who had expressed dissatisfaction regarding the coordination between government departments and local police during the high-profile festival.
Addressing the concerns, the minister asserted that the state government had consistently extended its cooperation to the royal family and maintained open lines of communication. He expressed that the family’s grievances could have been addressed through direct engagement with government representatives rather than through public statements. Minister Siddaramaiah stated that officials would be dispatched to hold discussions with the family or provide a formal response to their specific complaints to resolve the matter.
The controversy involved several points of contention, including the usage of the Golden Ambari, a central feature of the Jamboo Savari procession. Addressing public speculation, Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the state did not utilize the Golden Ambari without payment. He confirmed that the Ambari remains the property of the palace and that the government had compensated the royal family to include it in the Vijayadashami procession.
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar had listed various operational issues in her statement, such as alleged security lapses surrounding the Golden Ambari, lack of prior information regarding the selection of the elephant for the procession, and the restriction of access for palace representatives. Additionally, she cited instances of police vehicles obstructing private parking areas and barricades interfering with traditional religious rituals. She also highlighted concerns regarding the management of the traditional Vajramushti Kalaga, noting that access for wrestlers had been restricted.
In response, the minister dismissed the suggestion that the Dasara festivities should be reduced from their current duration to seven days, emphasizing the long-standing history of the government-organised Nada Habba. He maintained that the Palace Board is a government entity and that the premises involved fall under the state's oversight, reinforcing his stance that cooperation had been sufficient despite the accusations.
Regarding reports that the royal family had considered withholding the Ambari or taking legal action, the minister noted that the government remains prepared to address any such developments if they occur. He characterized the move toward litigation or public confrontation as unnecessary, given the government's expressed willingness to resolve the family's issues through dialogue and established protocols.
The Dasara 2026 festivities were marked by a broader set of challenges, including reports of tensions during the final procession, where security personnel reportedly stopped some ministers from entering the designated area. The royal family also took the opportunity to clarify the history of the Vajramushti Kalaga, noting that it had been omitted on specific occasions during the 1970s and 1980s and was notably suspended in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As the government continues its efforts to coordinate with the palace, the situation remains a point of local focus for the administration.
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