A game of thrones in Karnataka: It’s Chief Minister vs Maharani

Mysore: The shadow-boxing between the Karnataka government and the Mysore royal family took a turn for the worse on Saturday with the government sticking to its decision to hold cultural programmes at Mysore Palace during Navaratri, despite Maharani Pramoda Devi's objections to holding celebrations during the mourning period.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was unaware there was even a problem.

The situation could turn ugly with district in-charge minister V. Srinivas Prasada already terming the Mysore queen's request to scrap celebrations at the palace at this juncture, with only ten days to go before Navaratri, as "unfair."  

Mr. Prasad said the maharani being a member of Dasara high power committee headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should have attended the meet when it was convened, or sent a representative to air her views on how to hold this year's Dasara festivities.

"If the Maharani had placed her request to drop cultural programmes at Mysore Palace before the high power committee meet, the State would have taken cognizance of it, at the committee meeting.

Secondly, the district organising committee headed by me is not empowered to make major changes.

Our role is only to implement the decisions taken by high power committee," he said.

The minister said the government respects the sentiments of the Mysore royal family and mourns the death of the last scion of royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, but programmes at the Palace cannot be scrapped.

“Based on her request, we cancelled the traditional welcome of Dasara elephants at the Palace and decided to house the Dasara elephants at the dhobi ghat. We don't want a confrontation with the royal family. We are trying to negotiate with Ms. Pramoda Devi and are ready to meet her. Already, we tried to reach out to her 4-5 times and sought a date to hand over the Dasara invite, but we haven't been given that opportunity".
 

Mr. Prasad said that Ms. Pramoda Devi didn't say anything on not handing over the howdah and golden throne, which are jointly owned by the State and royal family. She promised to co-operate with the State and agreed to allow a jumbo savari to be held at Palace.

"Her only appeal was not to organise grand cultural events at Palace. But cultural programmes at Palace are integral part of public dasara without which there would be a big vacuum. We are trying to convince her". 

When asked what the stand of the government will be, if Maharani is not amenable, Mr. Prasad said the government will deal with it as and when such a situation arises.