MYSURU: BJP MLA Srivatsa has questioned the protocol followed during the Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari after Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s wife, Usha Shivakumar, participated in the traditional pushparchane, or floral offering, ceremony.
The MLA alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife was allowed onto the dais to offer flowers despite questions over whether the participation was consistent with established Dasara protocol. His remarks have added to the controversy surrounding the conduct of official ceremonies during this year’s Vijayadashami celebrations.
The issue emerged amid a separate controversy in which police personnel reportedly stopped several Karnataka ministers from entering the venue for the Nandi Dhwaja Pooja at Mysuru Palace.
Srivatsa raises questions over traditional protocol
Speaking in Mysuru, Srivatsa questioned the basis on which the Chief Minister’s wife was permitted to participate in the floral offering ceremony.
He claimed that even the queens of the Mysuru royal family had not traditionally gone onto the dais to offer flowers during the ceremony. He asked why the Chief Minister’s wife had been allowed to do so and questioned whether the district administration should have intervened.
The MLA also alleged that there had been serious lapses in the observance of protocol during the Dasara celebrations. He contrasted the permission granted to the Chief Minister’s wife with the reported obstruction faced by elected representatives during another official ritual.
Srivatsa called for the circumstances surrounding the arrangements to be examined.
Ministers stopped during Nandi Dhwaja Pooja
The criticism comes after ministers Shivaraj Tangadagi, K.S. Basavanthappa and P.M. Narendraswamy were reportedly stopped by a senior police officer while attempting to enter the designated area for the traditional Nandi Dhwaja Pooja at Mysuru Palace on October 21.
The ministers were scheduled to participate in the ceremony before the Jamboo Savari procession. According to reports, they were allowed to enter after their identities were clarified and Chief Minister Shivakumar intervened.
The incident triggered criticism from political leaders and organisations, with questions raised over security arrangements and the treatment of elected representatives during the state’s official Dasara celebrations.
Chief Minister orders inquiry into ministers’ incident
Shivakumar subsequently directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to conduct an inquiry into the incident involving the ministers and submit a report.
The Chief Minister criticised the officials’ handling of the situation and said responsibility would be fixed after the inquiry. The investigation is expected to examine why the ministers were stopped and whether the officials involved followed the prescribed instructions.
The controversy has also prompted wider discussions about the responsibilities of police personnel and administrators during major public ceremonies.
Protocol debate continues after Dasara
The latest objections have brought attention to the rules and traditions governing participation in the Mysuru Dasara rituals. While Srivatsa has alleged a breach of protocol over the floral offering, establishing whether any formal rule was violated would require examination of the applicable procedures and the arrangements approved for the ceremony.
The controversy has emerged alongside scrutiny of the police action involving the ministers. The findings of the official inquiry into that incident may clarify the circumstances surrounding the restrictions imposed at the Nandi Dhwaja Pooja venue.
The developments have placed the conduct of official ceremonies under public and political scrutiny following the conclusion of the Jamboo Savari celebrations.