No Need for All-Party Meet on Mekedatu, Says Tamil Nadu CM Vijay; Rejects 'Cheap Politics'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Friday dismissed the demand for an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu Dam project and the ongoing Cauvery water dispute, urging opposition parties to avoid politicising the issue. Speaking in the Assembly, Vijay asserted that his government remains firmly committed to protecting Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery waters and would not compromise on the Mekedatu issue.

He said there was no need to convene an all-party meeting, adding that the state's position had already been conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through an official letter. Vijay stressed that his government would continue to safeguard the state's interests regarding both the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and the proposed Mekedatu Dam project.

The Chief Minister also said he did not wish to revisit past political controversies or engage in what he described as "cheap politics." Instead, he urged all parties to focus on resolving the issue rather than seeking political advantage or credit. Vijay maintained that the government has a clear strategy to deal with the Cauvery dispute and will continue to pursue the matter through legal channels.

The remarks came in response to the DMK's demand for an all-party meeting to discuss Karnataka's proposal to construct the Mekedatu Dam across the Cauvery River. The debate has intensified amid political tensions following the arrest of Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over alleged derogatory remarks directed at Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha during the ongoing Cauvery dispute.

Udhayanidhi denied targeting any individual, saying his comments were focused solely on the Cauvery issue. He accused the government of using his arrest as a distraction to divert attention from the Mekedatu and Cauvery disputes. Inside the Assembly, Udhayanidhi questioned why the government had not called an all-party meeting, pointing out that Vijay had previously criticised the former administration for merely writing to the Prime Minister on the same issue.

He argued that the Chief Minister understands the seriousness of the dispute and should clearly outline the government's roadmap for resolving it. Referring to conflicting statements by ministers about a possible visit to Karnataka by Vijay, Udhayanidhi said the government's position appeared inconsistent. He also urged the Chief Minister to meet farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, claiming that the area under cultivation has dropped significantly compared to the previous government's tenure, making the water dispute an issue directly affecting farmers' livelihoods.