Mysuru, 4 Oct

Mysuru district in-charge minister HC Mahadevappa defended the presence of his grandson in an open jeep during Dasara with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after a former top cop said it was an arrogant gesture. 

Mahadevappa’s grandson was seen riding with him in an open jeep with Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and other ministers after the Nandhi Dwaja pooja in Mysuru.

Bhaskar Rao, the former police commissioner of Bengaluru took exception to it, along with the Opposition BJP.

“In a formal parade of Mysore Dasara, along with a jamboree of Ministers with CM Siddaramiah, a young Nepokid rides the ceremonial guard of honour jeep,” Rao wrote on X.

“Scant respect, arrogance, entitled attitude and no regard for people’s Dasara, Siddaramiah makes a mockery of (the) entire Dasara. Pride will fall and (the) day is not far when people will be filled with Anger and Hatred. A Nepal like situation waiting to happen… Dharwad Town almost came to a boil….last week.”

Mahadevappa hit back, defending the move. Speaking to press in Msyuru, Mahadevappa said "No protocol is violated on the occasion".

"The event is also not a parade event, not even flag hoisting ceremony…. His (CM’s) political opponents who do not know about this make such comments in social media,” he added.  

Mahadevappa added that the CM post was not vacant, dismissing claims of leadership change and saying that the final decision rests with the party’s High Command.

Reacting to the death of 12 children which has been linked to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and some other states, Mahadevappa criticised the Centre for acting belatedly and issuing an advisory only after the children died.