Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar has asked CM Vijay to defer his proposed August 3 Bengaluru visit, citing the tense atmosphere in Karnataka following the Cauvery water release order, and has pledged to find a more suitable date.
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar has requested that CM Vijay postpone his proposed August 3 visit to Bengaluru for Cauvery talks, saying the meeting should take place only once the atmosphere in Karnataka turns more cordial. Vijay had planned to travel with a delegation of five to six ministers for the bilateral discussions, which would have been the first direct talks between the two states on the Cauvery dispute in over a decade.
Addressing a joint press conference at Vidhana Soudha alongside Deputy CM G. Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Shivakumar said he had personally spoken with CM Vijay to request the deferral. He said Karnataka had already begun preparations to host the visit, but decided a postponement was necessary to ensure the meeting took place in a peaceful atmosphere.
The postponement follows the Cauvery Water Management Authority upholding an earlier direction requiring Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, which triggered protests in parts of Karnataka, including Mandya. Shivakumar expressed hope that ongoing rainfall would improve reservoir inflows and help create a more conducive environment for talks, and said he was consulting on a new mutually convenient date. He reiterated that Karnataka's officials and legal team remained ready to discuss all outstanding issues, including the Mekedatu project, in a respectful manner once the visit is rescheduled.
Separately, Shivakumar announced that Karnataka will hold an all-party meeting on August 2 at his official residence to chart the state's future course of action on the Cauvery dispute. Invitations have gone out to all former Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament from the Cauvery catchment region, and leaders and floor leaders of all political parties. Karnataka has also filed a formal appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority against the 3,500-cusecs release direction, even as the state's senior officers continue presenting its case before the relevant authorities.
Cauvery Dispute D.K. Shivakumar Karnataka CM Vijay July 31, 2026