CM Vijay defended his proposed Bengaluru talks with Karnataka in the Assembly, saying he was prepared to face humiliation for Tamil Nadu's rights, and rejected calls for an all-party meeting on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.
Replying to a special calling attention motion on the Cauvery water-sharing issue and the proposed Mekedatu dam in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday, CM Vijay said his earlier proposal to travel to Bengaluru for talks with the Karnataka government had been entirely his own decision, and defended it as a sincere attempt to resolve a long-standing dispute.
Addressing criticism over his government's openness to discussions in Bengaluru, Vijay said dialogue between neighbouring states was not unusual. "When even enemy countries hold talks to resolve disputes, there is nothing wrong with neighbouring States holding discussions," he told the House, adding that he had viewed the outreach as a positive step despite the political criticism it drew.
Vijay reaffirmed that Tamil Nadu's legal position on the Cauvery issue remained unchanged, and said his proposal to engage with Karnataka should not be seen as a departure from that stand, but as an exploration of whether talks could offer any additional path to a resolution. He also referred to the history of the dispute, noting that discussions had taken place as far back as 1969 when Karnataka began constructing certain dams, and said he did not wish to turn the issue into a political blame game over which party was in power at the time.
Vijay rejected calls for an all-party meeting on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues, telling the Assembly there was no need for one. The demand had been raised in the House by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who questioned the government's approach to the dispute. "Please do not play politics on the Mekedatu dam issue. Our government will not compromise on Tamil Nadu's rights regarding the Cauvery water issue or the Mekedatu dam issue," he said, asserting that his government would continue to pursue the dispute through legal channels and that political parties should not seek credit over an issue affecting the state's interests. He said protecting Tamil Nadu's water rights mattered more than political image, and that his government would pursue every possible avenue — including negotiations — to resolve the dispute.
Reaffirming the government's opposition to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir, Vijay said the state had followed up its unanimous Assembly resolution against the project by writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after finding that the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti had not presented the complete facts relating to the project. The communication cited the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court's judgment, urging the Centre not to grant approval. Describing the Cauvery as Tamil Nadu's lifeline and an emotional issue for its people, Vijay said his government did not have "even an iota of intention" to politicise the dispute, while remaining firmly committed to legal remedies.
Cauvery Dispute Mekedatu Tamil Nadu Assembly CM Vijay August 7, 2026