Chennai: The political temperature over the Cauvery water dispute has intensified after a senior minister in the Tamil Nadu government launched a sharp attack on Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, just days after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay called for direct dialogue between the two states.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Energy Resources and Law, R. Nirmalkumar, alleged that Shivakumar was more influenced by DMK president M.K. Stalin than by his own party’s leadership. The remarks mark a significant shift from the Tamil Nadu government’s recent efforts to pursue dialogue over the long-standing river water dispute.
Minister targets Shivakumar
Addressing reporters, Nirmalkumar claimed that Shivakumar “listens only to M.K. Stalin” and suggested that the Karnataka leader maintained close political ties with the DMK leadership. The minister also criticised the DMK, accusing it of attempting to portray the Tamil Nadu government as politically isolated over the Cauvery issue.
He further questioned the opposition’s legal strategy, alleging that the DMK had filed a separate petition before the Supreme Court despite the state government preparing to approach the apex court on the matter.
Shift from dialogue to confrontation
The comments come only days after Chief Minister Vijay proposed a direct meeting with Shivakumar to discuss the Cauvery dispute. However, the proposed talks were postponed after Karnataka cited ongoing protests over water releases ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
Political observers view the latest remarks as a shift from diplomatic outreach to a more confrontational approach, amid continuing tensions over water sharing between the neighbouring states.
Cooperation remains crucial
Despite recurring disputes over the Cauvery, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to share strong economic, industrial and infrastructure ties. Several cross-border projects, including transport connectivity and industrial corridor initiatives, require close cooperation between the two state governments.
The Cauvery issue remains one of the most sensitive inter-state disputes in southern India, with both governments expected to pursue legal and administrative measures while balancing political and public interests.