Tamil Nadu CM rejects all-party call, backs Karnataka talks

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday, August 7, 2026, defended his pursuit of diplomatic dialogue with Karnataka over the Cauvery water dispute, while firmly rejecting opposition demands for an all-party meeting on the contentious Mekedatu dam project. Speaking in the state Legislative Assembly, Vijay stated that the initiative to seek talks was his own, conceived in the hope of a positive outcome for the people of Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister made his remarks while responding to a special calling attention motion raised by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who criticized the government for not convening an all-party meeting to present a united front against Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir. Stalin also questioned why Vijay had postponed a proposed visit to Bengaluru for discussions.

Vijay rejected the call for an all-party meeting, asserting there was "no need" for one and urging political rivals to avoid what he termed "cheap politics" on an issue vital to the state's livelihood. He emphasized that his government’s official position of pursuing legal remedies in the Supreme Court remained unchanged and uncompromising. "Our...