The Karnataka government has ordered an inquiry by the Chief Secretary into an incident in which two ministers were stopped during the Nandi flag worship ceremony at Mysuru Dasara, D.K. Shivakumar said on Thursday. He described the episode as an error by officials and said he had personally instructed that the ministers be allowed to attend the ceremony.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the inquiry was being conducted by the Chief Secretary. He said the ministers had faced obstruction while going to perform the Nandi flag worship, but did not identify the officials or police personnel responsible for the lapse.
“This is the carelessness of officials. This happened when they were going to perform the Nandi flag worship. I myself instructed that the ministers be sent,” Shivakumar said, according to Prajavani. He also acknowledged the work carried out by the police and administrative officials for the successful conduct of Dasara.
The statement places the incident within the wider administrative arrangements for Mysuru Dasara, one of Karnataka’s major public cultural events. Protocol management at ceremonies involving ministers, officials, performers, police personnel and large public gatherings requires coordination between multiple departments. The government’s decision to seek a Chief Secretary-level inquiry indicates that it is examining how the access instructions were communicated and implemented at the venue.
Shivakumar was also asked about an incident during Shivamogga Dasara. He said the government had anticipated the possibility of such events and had held a meeting chaired by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to take precautions for Mysuru Dasara. He said an elephant named Prashanth had been selected to carry the ambari.
“Some mistake happened in Shivamogga. More caution will be taken next time. This is a warning bell for us. Fortunately, no one faced any problem,” Shivakumar said. His remarks linked the two incidents through the government’s preparations for managing ceremonial proceedings and elephant-related arrangements during Dasara events.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the Dasara Jambu Savari had concluded successfully. He said the torchlight parade and tableaux, which showcased India’s cultural diversity, had received appreciation, including from the chief ministers of Kerala and Telangana. According to Shivakumar, the two states’ chief ministers had said they would send cultural troupes to participate in future Dasara celebrations.
The Chief Secretary’s inquiry is now expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the ministers’ obstruction during the Nandi flag worship and identify the administrative or security measures required to prevent a recurrence. The government has not disclosed a timeline for the inquiry or announced any action against specific officials.
