Cauvery row: Cheap politics won’t help, says TN CM Vijay, defends proposed talks with Karnataka

CM Vijay

Chennai, Aug. 7, 2026: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Friday said there was no question of compromising the state’s rights over the Cauvery river or the proposed Mekedatu dam, while defending his suggestion to hold talks with the Karnataka government in the hope of finding an amicable solution to the long-standing inter-state water dispute.

Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijay urged political parties not to politicise the issue and said there was no need to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu dam issue.

“There is no need to convene an all-party meeting. Please do not play politics on the Mekedatu dam issue. Whatever our stand may be, we have expressed it through a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our government will not compromise on its rights regarding the river water issue or the Mekedatu dam issue,” he said.

Vijay said he did not want to indulge in what he termed “cheap politics” over the decades-old Cauvery dispute. He also recalled that political parties in Tamil Nadu had held discussions on the issue since 1969.

The Chief Minister stressed that the Cauvery dispute must be handled with utmost care and reiterated that the state would continue to pursue legal remedies.

“We are firm on dealing with the Cauvery issue legally. There is no change in that stand,” he said.

Vijay revealed that he himself had proposed holding talks with neighbouring Karnataka, believing that dialogue could lead to a positive outcome.

He said he had even considered travelling to Bengaluru to meet the Karnataka government and explore the possibility of finding an amicable way forward. “I thought of visiting Karnataka on the Cauvery issue and received several opinions about it,” he said.

The Chief Minister clarified that any such dialogue would not amount to a change in Tamil Nadu’s legal position on the Cauvery dispute.

Vijay said dialogue was essential even in disputes involving countries that were sworn enemies, and added that he was prepared to face criticism if his efforts helped safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests.

“For the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu, I was prepared to bear insults in an attempt to hold talks on the Cauvery issue,” he said.