Mysore/Mysuru, July 4 -- Shivakumar was the last 'First Citizen of City' to ride on horse in 2023

Just like last year, the upcoming Nada Habba Mysuru Dasara - scheduled from Sept. 22 to Oct. 2 - is likely to be held without a Mayor, the ceremonial 'First Citizen of Mysuru.' This continued absence marks a break from a cherished tradition that has been part of Dasara for decades.

One of the iconic moments of the Vijayadashami Day procession is the Mayor, dressed in a ceremonial gown and adorned with the traditional Mysore Peta, riding horseback alongside the Jumboo Savari. This spectacle, witnessed by lakhs of people from across the country, symbolises the Mayor's pride of place in Mysuru's civic and cultural life.

However, with election...