Mysuru: Mysuru Police Commissioner Seema Latkar has rejected allegations by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, a member of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, that a lack of coordination among government departments caused difficulties during the Mysuru Dussehra 2026 celebrations. The Forest Department has also issued a clarification on the selection of the elephant that carried the golden howdah during the Vijayadashami Jamboo Savari procession.

The responses followed a statement issued by Pramoda Devi on October 25, in which she expressed disappointment over the functioning of various government departments during the festival. She alleged that recurring problems involving police personnel, security arrangements and access to the Mysuru Palace had disrupted the smooth conduct of the family’s customary ceremonies.

In response, the Police Commissioner’s office said the district administration, police department, Palace Board and other departments had held coordination meetings continuously for two months before the celebrations.

The statement maintained that the festival had been conducted successfully through the collective efforts of the departments concerned.

Police explain arrangements for wrestlers

Responding to concerns over the entry of wrestlers participating in the Dussehra ceremonies, the police said members of the Jatti community had been permitted to enter through the Brahmapuri Gate.

According to the police statement, three of the four teams arrived at the scheduled time. The fourth team arrived late but was nevertheless allowed entry.

However, the late-arriving team reportedly insisted that members without official passes should also be admitted. The police said this delayed proceedings and that the team eventually left on its own.

The statement sought to clarify that entry restrictions were implemented as part of the security arrangements for the celebrations.

Security arrangements around golden howdah

The police also addressed concerns about access to the area where the golden howdah was mounted on the elephant.

According to the Commissioner’s office, no unauthorised persons or family members of officials were permitted into the restricted area.

The statement said a new elephant had been assigned to carry the golden howdah this year. Consequently, access to the area was limited to senior Forest Department officials holding the required duty passes, the 40-member Cheetah Force, mahouts and authorised Palace representatives.

The Police Commissioner received the golden howdah from the palace after giving an undertaking concerning its security, in keeping with the longstanding tradition associated with the procession.

After the Jamboo Savari concluded, the howdah was returned safely to the palace against an acknowledgement of receipt, the statement said.

Palace representatives holding valid duty passes remained with the howdah from the time it was mounted on the elephant until it was handed back.

Forest Department explains selection of Prashantha

Separately, the Forest Department defended its decision to select Prashantha to carry the golden howdah during the Vijayadashami procession at Mysuru Dussehra 2026.

In a letter to the Dussehra Special Officer and Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, the Deputy Conservator of Forests of the Mysuru Wildlife Division explained the process followed to identify a suitable elephant.

The department said Prashantha was selected only after scientific trials, an assessment of physical fitness and compliance with safety requirements.

According to the letter, 13 elephants from different camps arrived in Mysuru for this year’s celebrations. The elephants underwent regular training within the palace premises to prepare for their roles in the festivities.

Five elephants — Mahendra, Sugreeva, Dhananjaya, Ekalavya and Prashantha — were selected for weight-bearing trials. They were made to carry a wooden howdah loaded with sandbags to assess their ability to bear the load required for the procession.

The trials were conducted between September 25 and October 13.

The Forest Department said Mahendra became tired and showed reluctance to continue, while the other four elephants responded well to the weight-bearing exercises.

The department cited these trials, along with physical fitness assessments and safety requirements, as the basis for selecting Prashantha.

Pramoda Devi raises concerns over recurring problems

In her October 25 statement, Pramoda Devi expressed deep disappointment over the way government departments handled arrangements for the 2026 celebrations.

She alleged that coordination and communication problems involving the Palace Police, Mysuru District Police, Karnataka State Reserve Police platoons, City Armed Reserve and District Armed Reserve platoons, as well as personnel deputed from other districts, continued to be evident each year.

She said the alleged lack of cooperation between departments had caused inconvenience to the royal family and interfered with its religious rituals.

Pramoda Devi also raised concerns about having to approach the Deputy Conservator of Forests five days before the event to obtain information, which she said had caused unnecessary stress.

She urged the government to consider her suggestions for improving coordination and appealed for public support.

The police and Forest Department have now presented their explanations of the security arrangements, entry procedures and elephant-selection process. While the police maintain that the celebrations were conducted through coordinated efforts, Pramoda Devi’s statement highlights continuing concerns over communication and access during the royal family’s customary ceremonies.