Member of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, on 4 November 2026 clarified at a press conference in Mysuru that her letter to the Karnataka state government contained only suggestions — not directives — aimed at improving the conduct of future Dasara celebrations. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar responded by saying he would examine her concerns and speak with her directly.

What Pramoda Devi Said

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar told reporters that her suggestions were intended to ensure the annual Dasara festivities are conducted smoothly in the years ahead, and that it was entirely within the government's discretion to accept or reject them. She was explicit that the royal family had not blamed the Karnataka government as a whole; their specific objection related to the behaviour and presence of state police during the celebrations.

On the prized golden howdah — the centrepiece of the Dasara procession — she reiterated that it remains the private property of the royal family and falls outside any government legislation. 'Neither the golden howdah nor the royal throne came under any government legislation,' she asserted, adding that both have historically belonged to the family and will continue to do so.

The Golden Howdah and Elephant Selection Dispute

Pramoda Devi clarified that the payment made by the government in connection with the golden howdah should not be characterised as a royalty fee. The standard protocol, she explained, is for the government to write to the royal family seeking permission to use the howdah for the procession, and the payment is made specifically in that context.

She also raised concerns about the process of selecting the elephant chosen to carry the golden howdah, stressing that the palace must be consulted before any such decision is finalised. 'This is not merely a matter of the royal family's rights. It is also about the safety of the elephant and lakhs of people. There should not be any risk to the mahout or the elephant,' she said.

Pointing to coordination failures during Mysuru Dasara 2026, she noted that the family had to approach the Deputy Conservator of Forests just five days before the event to find out which elephant had been selected — a lapse she described as a failure of official responsibility.

Chief Minister Shivakumar's Response

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he was unaware of the specific allegation that he had failed to act on an earlier assurance to address mismanagement. 'We hold the royal family of Karnataka in the highest regard. I cannot act merely on the basis of what you tell me, nor can I respond simply because the media poses a question in a particular manner. I will look into the matter and speak with her,' he said.

The Political Dimension

Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah maintained that the Mysuru Palace and the Palace Board fall under state government jurisdiction, and that residential space is extended to the former royal family as a gesture of respect. He emphasised that the government does not use the Ambari free of charge and follows official protocols.

When Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B.Y. Vijayendra demanded an apology from the government, Yathindra declined, stating that the palace and surrounding lands belong to the state and that his earlier remarks were a direct response to Pramoda Devi's public statement. The BJP's demand adds a sharper political edge to what began as an administrative disagreement over festival management.

Background and Broader Context

The Mysuru Dasara is one of India's most prominent cultural festivals, drawing lakhs of visitors annually. The involvement of the erstwhile royal family has historically been both ceremonial and deeply symbolic. This dispute — over coordination, protocol, police conduct, and property rights — reflects a recurring tension between the family's traditional role and the state's administrative authority over public events held on what it considers government property. It is not the first time such frictions have surfaced around the festival, and the outcome of Shivakumar's promised conversation with Pramoda Devi will be closely watched ahead of the 2027 celebrations.