Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 22 October 2026, declared the Mysuru Dasara celebrations a resounding success, noting that the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Telangana had attended the festivities and expressed appreciation. Speaking to journalists outside his Bengaluru residence before departing for Delhi, Shivakumar also announced that a meeting with sugarcane growers and sugar factory owners would be convened in Belagavi on 26 October.

Sugarcane Crisis and Centre's Role

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency in North Karnataka, will not be able to attend the Belagavi meeting due to unavoidable reasons. According to Shivakumar, Joshi has suggested that the state government hold the meeting first, after which the Centre will convene a separate discussion at the central level.

'The issue of sugarcane growers is not confined to Karnataka but concerns the entire country. A separate meeting will be held with officials at the Central level to discuss the matter and find a solution,' Shivakumar said.

Key State-Centre Issues on the Agenda

The Chief Minister outlined several pressing matters he intends to raise during his Delhi visit. He said he would hold discussions with concerned Union Ministers on forest land disputes and seek meetings to address drought relief, noting that separate teams and officials have already been assigned to these issues. He added that a decision on the Mahadayi water dispute could prove difficult given the upcoming elections in Goa.

On the Tungabhadra reservoir crisis, Shivakumar said the state had requested a meeting with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to be held either in Andhra Pradesh or in Delhi. 'The Tungabhadra reservoir is facing a severe shortage of water, and farmers' demand for water is very high. With no rainfall, we need to formulate our next course of action,' he said. He also confirmed plans to meet the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to submit Karnataka's demands on drought relief.

Separately, Shivakumar said he had sought an appointment with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to discuss issues related to Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), though the meeting had not yet been scheduled as Scindia was occupied with Dasara-related engagements.

Dasara Celebrations: Highlights and Appreciation

Shivakumar credited the success of the Jamboo Savari procession held on Wednesday to meticulous planning and the contributions of multiple stakeholders. He specifically thanked Energy Minister K.J. George for overseeing illumination arrangements, Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayareddy for extending hospitality to foreign diplomats, and actress-politician Jayamala and producer-actor Rockline Venkatesh from the Kannada film industry for their participation through tableaux.

He also acknowledged contributions from prominent sportspersons, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT). 'The drone show has created a new record,' he said. The Chief Ministers of Kerala and Telangana have reportedly indicated they would send cultural troupes from their respective states for future editions.

Shivamogga Incident and Safety Measures

Shivakumar also addressed a mishap during the Shivamogga Dasara celebrations on Wednesday, where a 36-year-old elephant named Somanna, which was carrying the howdah, strayed from its route and became uncontrollable. The silver howdah carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari fell to the ground and was damaged. Two cars and three motorcycles were also damaged during the incident, involving two other elephants — Sagar and Bahaddur. No persons were reported injured.

The Chief Minister said precautions had been taken in Mysuru specifically to prevent such incidents. A meeting chaired by Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy had considered alternative arrangements, including a backup elephant for the golden howdah, before Prashantha was selected for the role. 'This is a warning for us. Fortunately, nobody was harmed,' Shivakumar said, adding that the Shivamogga organisers had been 'slightly careless.'

On reports that some ministers were briefly prevented from performing rituals during Dasara, Shivakumar described it as an inadvertent lapse by officials and said the Chief Secretary was conducting an enquiry into the incident, noting that he had personally intervened to facilitate their entry. With Karnataka navigating multiple inter-state water disputes and an agrarian crisis among sugarcane growers, the outcome of Shivakumar's Delhi consultations will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.