August 2026

The Karnataka government’s decision to cancel MUDA’s disputed 50:50 alternative-site allotments has triggered further political debate in Mysuru. BJP MLC R. Raghu criticised the government’s order, arguing that it should clearly specify the cancellation of all sites allotted under the 50:50 scheme after 2019. He also questioned whether the current action would address all alleged irregularities associated with the scheme. Other political leaders have demanded wider scrutiny of earlier allotments and stronger action against those responsible for alleged irregularities. The controversy continues to remain a major political issue in Mysuru, particularly because of the large number and high value of properties involved.

The Cauvery water-sharing issue has once again become a major political and agricultural concern in the Mysuru region. BJP leaders, farmer organisations and other groups have raised objections over water releases from the Cauvery basin, arguing that adequate water must first be ensured for farmers in Karnataka. Protests around the KRS reservoir have increased political pressure on the state government, with parties demanding a stronger stand on the state’s water requirements. The issue is particularly sensitive because farmers in Mysuru, Mandya and surrounding areas depend heavily on Cauvery water for irrigation. The continuing dispute highlights the political and economic importance of effective water management in the Cauvery basin.At an emergency meeting held at Mandya Inspection Bungalow, farmer leaders, including Sunanda Jayaram, former MLA GB Shivakumar and Kannada Sena leader Manjunath, criticised the state govt and CWMA for failing to effectively present Karnataka’s drought situation before the Supreme Court. They said govt must safeguard the state’s interests while ensuring that Mandya’s farmers are not deprived of water.The committee announced that a massive protest would be organised in Mandya on Aug 24 if Supreme Court delivers an adverse order at its next hearing. The leaders also urged Karnataka MPs to raise the Cauvery issue in the Parliament and demanded that water resources minister N Cheluvarayaswamy take immediate action to protect the state’s interests.

Five legislators from the Mysuru and Malnad regions were inducted into the Karnataka state cabinet during the cabinet expansion announced in August 2026. The move was viewed as an effort to provide stronger regional representation within the state government. Two of the inducted leaders had already held ministerial positions in the previous government. The cabinet expansion is politically significant for the Mysuru and surrounding regions because the newly inducted ministers are expected to play a role in addressing regional development priorities, infrastructure, agriculture and other public issues. However, the expansion also resulted in disappointment among some senior Congress leaders who were not included.

The Karnataka government has ordered the cancellation of around 1,100 alternative site allotments made under the controversial 50:50 scheme in Mysuru. The government stated that the allotments were made despite a March 14, 2023 directive stopping such allotments. The decision follows recommendations from a single-member inquiry commission and a high-level technical committee. The sites involved are estimated to be worth nearly ₹2,000 crore. Authorities have also been instructed to initiate legal proceedings for cancellation of registered sale deeds and to stop new registrations and processing of khatas related to the affected sites. The development has once again brought the MUDA site-allotment issue into the political spotlight in Mysuru.

Mysuru district has completed the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, resulting in around 5.59 lakh voter entries being removed from the ASDDO category. The category includes voters who are absent, shifted, deceased, duplicated or otherwise unavailable. Before the revision, Mysuru had approximately 27.99 lakh registered voters across 11 Assembly constituencies and 2,915 polling stations. Booth Level Officers carried out door-to-door verification and distributed more than 22 lakh enumeration forms. The revised draft electoral roll is scheduled to be published on August 24, after which voters will have an opportunity to check their details and submit corrections or claims. The final electoral roll is expected to be published on October 19, 2026.