Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay arrived in Delhi this Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the contested Mekedatu dam project [1, 2].
The meeting comes as tensions rise between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over water rights. The dispute centers on whether the proposed dam will restrict water flow to Tamil Nadu, potentially impacting agriculture and drinking water supplies in the region.
Vijay said the central government should withhold clearance for the project [1, 2]. Tamil Nadu maintains that the Mekedatu dam violates the 2018 Kaveri tribunal order [1, 2]. The request for central intervention follows a decision by the Supreme Court to dismiss a review plea filed by Tamil Nadu [1, 2].
This visit marks the first trip to the capital for Vijay since he assumed office as Chief Minister on May 10 [2]. His administration represents the TVK, which won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly [2].
Beyond the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister's itinerary includes discussions with leaders from the Congress party [2]. The Mekedatu row remains a primary point of friction between the two southern states, a conflict that has persisted through multiple legal challenges and tribunal rulings [1, 2].
“Tamil Nadu maintains that the Mekedatu dam violates the 2018 Kaveri tribunal order.”
The visit signals a strategic shift for the new Tamil Nadu administration, prioritizing federal negotiation after legal avenues in the Supreme Court were exhausted. By engaging both the Prime Minister and opposition leaders, Vijay is attempting to build a multi-pronged political front to prevent Karnataka from proceeding with the dam, which is seen as a critical threat to Tamil Nadu's water security.
