Tamil Nadu: Political activity has once again intensified in Chennai over the Cauvery water sharing issue. Left parties and regional parties have demanded the postponement of the 50th meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), scheduled for April 29 in New Delhi. They stated that holding such an important meeting in the absence of representatives of elected governments would be inappropriate.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, and Pattali Makkal Katchi issued a joint statement on Monday. The statement stated that discussing the issue solely at the official level would not serve the interests of the states.
CPM State Secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI State Secretary M. Veerapandi, and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss appealed to the central government to postpone the meeting until the new governments in the respective states are fully established.
The leaders noted that elections were recently held in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the results are expected on May 4. Furthermore, the election process has been completed in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Therefore, holding such a meeting before the formation of new governments is considered inappropriate.
They also stated that the Cauvery water sharing issue is a sensitive and long-standing issue, requiring balance at both the political and administrative levels. Only the presence of representatives of elected governments can ensure transparency and acceptability in such decisions.
According to the leaders, if the meeting is held on schedule and only attended by officials, it will not adequately represent the interests of the states. They stated that it is essential that elected representatives also be part of the process.
Appealing to the central government, they urged that, respecting the democratic process, the meeting be postponed for some time so that the new governments can discuss the issue with their representatives.
The Cauvery water dispute has been a long-standing issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and has been discussed periodically on various platforms. CWMA meetings are considered crucial for resolving this dispute and water management.
At present, there has been no official response from the central government on this demand. It remains to be seen whether the meeting will take place as scheduled or be postponed.
This issue has once again become a topic of national discussion regarding water management and state rights.
