Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar being greeted with a bouquet by Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy on his arrival at Periyapatna this morning.

Mysuru: Defending the State Government’s decision to hold Dasara on a grand scale despite the drought situation, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said changes were inevitable with the passage of time.
Speaking to reporters at Periyapatna this morning after arriving to launch the Government’s ‘Prajaseva’ programme in Mysuru district, Shivakumar said Dasara was the State’s Nada Habba and showcased its art, culture and traditions.
On the opposition to holding Kambala in Mysuru as part of Dasara, he said cultural exchanges between States were common.
“As Dasara is a Nada Habba involving everyone, we have decided to give cultural representation to other regions of the State too. Kambala, the traditional buffalo race held in the slush fields of the coastal region, has therefore been allowed to be held in Mysuru too,” he said.
He said the State Government would invite the Chief Ministers of Southern States to attend Dasara as guests. He said the CMs had also been asked to send tableaux representing their respective States for Jumboo Savari.
“Dasara-like events are held in neighbouring States too. Everything will be finalised in a couple of days,” he said.
On the confusion surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State, Shivakumar said the Government had brought the alleged irregularities to the notice of the Election Commission and lodged a complaint over what he termed “numerous discrepancies and follies” in the process.
“We have lodged a complaint with Election Commission, following which the EC has ordered a thorough probe. As such, there is no need for the State Government to conduct a separate investigation for now,” he said.