Dasara Inauguration Ignites Political Firestorm: Congress Slams BJP Over Protocol Breach

A simmering political feud in Karnataka has boiled over, casting a shadow on the revered Mysuru Dasara celebrations. The Congress party has escalated tensions by filing a formal police complaint against a prominent priest and two influential BJP leaders, alleging a blatant disregard for protocol during the auspicious inauguration ritual.

The complaint, lodged at the Nazarbad police station, targets priest S.V.

Prahlad Rao, alongside BJP stalwarts S.A. Ramdas and L. Nagendra. The core of the accusation revolves around an unauthorized ritual performed at the famed Bhuvaneshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, which, according to Congress, was conducted without the mandatory consultation or presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or District In-charge Minister H.C.

Mahadevappa.

Congress leaders S. Harish and K. Marigowda led the charge, vehemently asserting that the unsanctioned ‘puja’ was not merely a lapse in etiquette but a deliberate and politically motivated act. They contend it was orchestrated to undermine the Chief Minister's authority and sow seeds of unrest within the community, leveraging a sacred event for partisan gains.

This, they argue, constitutes a severe insult to the state's highest office.

Further deepening the controversy, the Congress pointed to a potential legal infraction, specifically citing Section 3 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997. This section governs the administration of temples and their rituals, implying that the priest, S.V.

Prahlad Rao, may have overstepped his authority by participating in a politically charged event without the due consent of the temple's administrative body or the state government representatives.

The incident underscores the delicate balance between tradition, politics, and administrative decorum in Karnataka.

As the state gears up for its grandest festival, this inauguration row serves as a stark reminder of the often-intertwined nature of religious events and political narratives, leaving many to wonder about the sanctity of such rituals when caught in the crosshairs of party rivalries.