The upcoming Mysuru Dasara festival, scheduled from September 22 to October 2, will likely proceed without a Mayor, breaking a long-standing tradition where the city’s ceremonial ‘First Citizen’ rides horseback in the Vijayadashami Day procession. This absence is due to the prolonged delay in elections for the Mysuru City Corporation and other local bodies, leaving the MCC without an elected council or Mayor. The last Mayor to participate in this iconic event was Shivakumar in September 2023, and the lack of a Mayor this year has been widely lamented by former officeholders who emphasize the cultural and civic significance of the role.

Former Mayors and local leaders have expressed concern over the disruption of this cherished tradition and the broader impact of stalled local governance. They highlight that the Mayor’s presence on horseback is a major attraction during the festival and that the government’s delay in conducting elections undermines public trust and halts development work at various local government levels. Calls have been made for immediate elections to restore functional governance and revive Mysuru’s cultural heritage tied to the Dasara celebrations.