Mysuru: A breakfast programme organised for the families of Dasara elephant mahouts and kavadis at the Mysore Palace premises on Monday witnessed a disagreement within the Karnataka Congress after Mysuru District Minister Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah arrived late. Congress MLA Tanveer Sait left the venue after waiting for the minister, questioning the delay in serving breakfast to the elephant handlers and their families.

The programme was organised by the district administration as part of the preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026. It was intended to honour and host the mahouts, kavadis and their families, who are closely involved in the care and preparation of the Dasara elephant contingent.

According to reports, the programme was scheduled for around 9 am. Sait arrived on time and waited for the minister, but Dr Yathindra reached the venue only after 10 am.

Tanveer Sait leaves programme

Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait expressed displeasure over the delay and subsequently left the venue before the breakfast programme began.

According to the reports, Sait had waited for around 45 minutes and later spoke to Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, who is also associated with the Dasara arrangements. Sait questioned the lack of punctuality and said that the mahouts and kavadis, who had travelled from forest areas, should not have been made to wait for their food.

The India Today report described the incident as an instance of internal friction within the Karnataka Congress. The disagreement, however, centred on the timing of the programme and the delay in the minister’s arrival, according to the reports.

Breakfast organised for Dasara elephant handlers

The event was specifically arranged for the families of the mahouts and kavadis associated with the Dasara elephants.

Mahouts and kavadis play an important role in the annual Mysuru Dasara celebrations. They accompany the elephants during their stay in Mysuru, oversee their daily routines and assist with training and preparations before the major festival events.

The district administration had organised the breakfast as a gesture of recognition for the handlers and their families ahead of the festival.

The delay became particularly noticeable because many of the families had arrived at the Palace premises early in the morning. Some mahouts and kavadis told the Times of India that they had arrived around 8.45 am and normally have breakfast between 8.30 am and 9 am. They said they had to wait until around 10.45 am on Monday.

Yathindra Siddaramaiah later joins event

Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah eventually arrived at the Mysore Palace and joined the programme. He served breakfast to the families of the mahouts and kavadis and participated in the event.

The minister later explained the reason for his delayed arrival. He said that he had recently shifted to a new house in Mysuru and household items were still scattered. He said his mother was away and there were no workers available, which meant he had to make arrangements before leaving for the programme.

Dr Yathindra said the delay was not deliberate and that he had spoken to Tanveer Sait over the phone about the matter.

Other leaders also attended

The breakfast programme was attended by several elected representatives and officials involved in the Dasara preparations.

Former Minister G.T. Devegowda and MLA Anil Chikkamadu were also present at the event, according to reports. They too arrived later than the scheduled time.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy was among the officials involved in the programme and Dasara arrangements.

The event formed part of a series of activities being organised ahead of the main Mysuru Dasara celebrations, with preparations involving the Palace administration, district administration, Forest Department and various other agencies.

Incident draws attention during Dasara preparations

The disagreement comes at the beginning of the final phase of preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026, when the district administration and various departments are coordinating a large number of cultural and traditional events.

The Dasara elephant contingent is among the central features of the festival. The elephants are brought to Mysuru in advance and undergo training and acclimatisation before participating in ceremonial events.

The handlers accompanying them remain responsible for their daily care, feeding and routine throughout their stay.

The breakfast event was therefore organised specifically for a group closely associated with the festival. Sait’s decision to leave over the delay brought attention to the importance of the programme’s timing.

Minister says delay was not intentional

Following the incident, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah provided an explanation for his late arrival rather than disputing the occurrence.

He said the recent move to a new residence had contributed to the delay and that he had to make arrangements before leaving home. He also said he had already spoken to Tanveer Sait by phone and clarified the matter.

The minister subsequently participated in the breakfast programme, meaning the event went ahead despite the earlier disagreement.

The reports do not indicate that the incident affected the broader Dasara preparations or any scheduled festival programme.

Dasara preparations continue

Mysuru is currently preparing for the 2026 Dasara celebrations, with the district administration coordinating arrangements involving the elephant contingent, cultural programmes, public events and visitor facilities.

The mahouts and kavadis are expected to remain closely involved in the preparations as the elephants undergo training and acclimatisation ahead of their ceremonial duties.

The breakfast programme was intended to recognise their contribution and bring their families together at the Palace premises.

While the late arrival of the district minister led to a brief disagreement with MLA Tanveer Sait, the minister eventually joined the gathering and served breakfast to the families.

Conclusion

A breakfast programme for Dasara mahouts, kavadis and their families at the Mysore Palace witnessed a disagreement after District Minister Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah arrived more than an hour after the scheduled time. Congress MLA Tanveer Sait, who had waited at the venue, left expressing displeasure over the delay. Dr Yathindra later joined the event and said his recent house move had caused the delay, which he said was not deliberate.