CM calls Stalin for talks after Karnataka announces Cauvery meet

With the Karnataka government announcing an all-party meeting on March 7 regarding the Cauvery water sharing issue, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin are expected to hold talks over the development on Saturday at the Secretariat here.

As soon as news of the all-party meeting came out, Palaniswami called up the DMK working president and requested a meeting with him. The interaction between the CM and Stalin, who had promised to support the state government’s moves on the Cauvery dispute, is likely to set the momentum for the next course of action by Tamil Nadu. 

This will be the second meeting between the two leaders on the issue following the all-party meeting convened by the state government. At the first meeting on February 22, it had been unanimously decided that an all-party delegation led by the CM would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and urge him to form the Cauvery Management Board at the earliest. While the TN delegation is yet to meet Modi, Karnataka has announced the all-party meeting. 

With four weeks remaining for the time frame given by the Supreme Court to form the board to ensure timely release of water to Tamil Nadu with modifications in the quantity of water, the political parties in the State are gradually taking an aggressive stand from the initial soft approach.

Lok Sabha deputy Speaker M Thambidurai who initially expressed optimism over the Centre’s action, warned of protests against the Centre if the board is not set up. Speaking to reporters at Karur, he said, “Karnataka is refusing to follow Supreme Court directions and thus violating the Constitution. The MPs belonging to AIADMK would raise the issue in Parliament if the Centre fails to respect the SC judgment”. 

Also, with Karnataka going to the Assembly polls soon, state parties are apprehensive over the Union government’s compliance with the court order. However, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and state BJP president Tamilisai in separate press interactions reiterated that the board would be formed.