RSS Vijayadashami march awaits police nod in Tumakuru; Kalaburagi, Hubballi get conditional clearance
Synopsis
The RSS is staring down a police permission standoff in Tumakuru even as Karnataka granted conditional clearance for Vijayadashami marches in Kalaburagi and Hubballi. Home Minister Priyank Kharge's blunt 'not a slave of the RSS' remark has turned a routine procession-permission issue into a full-blown political flashpoint — with the BJP crying foul and more than 10,000 expected in Hubballi on Sunday.
Key Takeaways
RSS has not received police permission for Vijayadashami processions in Tumakuru city , Kunigal , and Gubbi as of 24 October 2026 .
Applications were submitted to police four days ago ; the Graduates' Constituency Legislative Council election has been cited in the backdrop of the delay.
Kalaburagi granted conditional permission: procession to follow a fixed route from Nagareshwara School to Sharanabasaveshwara Jatra Maidan , with a ban on provocative speeches.
Hubballi procession set for 25 October ; more than 10,000 participants expected, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP MP Jagadish Shettar among attendees.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge sparked controversy by saying Karnataka police is 'not a slave of the RSS' and that an intimation letter alone is insufficient for permission.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is yet to receive police permission to conduct its Vijayadashami processions in Tumakuru district, Karnataka, even as conditional clearances have been granted for marches in Kalaburagi and Hubballi. The developments, unfolding on 24 October 2026, have triggered a sharp political controversy over the state government's handling of RSS procession applications.
Tumakuru: Permission Still Pending
In Tumakuru district, the RSS has planned Vijayadashami processions across Tumakuru city, Tumakuru Rural, Kunigal, and Gubbi on Saturday, 24 October and Sunday. According to sources, the organisation submitted applications to the police four days ago seeking permission for the designated locations. However, clearance had not been granted as of Saturday, with the Graduates' Constituency Legislative Council election cited as part of the backdrop for the delay.
Kalaburagi Gets Conditional Go-Ahead
In Kalaburagi — the native place of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and his father, All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge — the RSS has received conditional permission to hold a Vijayadashami procession. RSS representatives reportedly filled out Forms 1 and 2 prescribed by the Home Department and submitted them to the authorities as part of the formal procedure.
The Kalaburagi City Law and Order Deputy Commissioner of Police granted permission subject to conditions, including strict adherence to the designated route and a prohibition on provocative speeches. The procession will begin at Nagareshwara School and conclude at Sharanabasaveshwara Jatra Maidan.
Hubballi: 10,000 Expected at Procession and Convention
In Hubballi, the RSS has organised both a procession and a public convention for Sunday, 25 October. The march will originate at Nehru Maidan before moving through various parts of the city. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagadish Shettar, and other senior BJP leaders are expected to participate. More than 10,000 people are anticipated to join the procession.
The Political Row Over Permission
The issue has taken on considerable political weight following remarks by Home Minister Priyank Kharge, who stated that the Karnataka police department was 'not a slave of the RSS' and that the organisation must follow the prescribed procedure to obtain permission. He maintained that merely submitting an intimation letter would not suffice. The BJP has pushed back, accusing the Congress-led state government of selectively obstructing RSS events. This comes amid a broader pattern of friction between the ruling Congress and the RSS in Karnataka over the past year, with permission disputes becoming a recurring flashpoint around Hindu festivals. How authorities in Tumakuru respond to the pending applications is expected to determine whether the controversy deepens further in the coming hours.
Point of View
The messaging is unmistakably political. The BJP's counterpunch — packing Hubballi with 10,000 attendees and two senior leaders — is equally deliberate. What gets lost is whether the actual legal standard for procession permissions is being applied uniformly across all organisations in Karnataka, or selectively. That is the question neither side wants answered on the record.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the RSS not received permission for its Vijayadashami procession in Tumakuru?
As of 24 October 2026, police clearance for RSS Vijayadashami processions in Tumakuru city, Kunigal, and Gubbi had not been granted, even though applications were submitted four days earlier. The Graduates' Constituency Legislative Council election has been cited as part of the backdrop for the delay.
What conditions were attached to the Kalaburagi procession permission?
The Kalaburagi City Law and Order Deputy Commissioner of Police granted conditional permission requiring the RSS to adhere strictly to the designated route — from Nagareshwara School to Sharanabasaveshwara Jatra Maidan — and prohibiting provocative speeches during the march.
What did Home Minister Priyank Kharge say about the RSS and police permission?
Home Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the Karnataka police department is 'not a slave of the RSS' and that the organisation must follow the prescribed formal procedure, including filling out the required forms, to obtain permission. He said a mere intimation letter would not suffice.
Who is expected to attend the Hubballi RSS procession on 25 October?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Minister and BJP MP Jagadish Shettar, and other senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the Hubballi procession and public convention on Sunday, 25 October. More than 10,000 people are anticipated to join.
Why is Kalaburagi politically significant in this controversy?
Kalaburagi is the native district of both Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and his father, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, making the grant of conditional permission there — and the broader handling of RSS applications — particularly sensitive in the current political climate.
