In yet another instance of the camaraderie which prevails between the chief-minister and the Leader of the Opposition, Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami has invited DMK’s working president M.K. Stalin for talks today to discuss further action on the Cauvery river water sharing issue.

Taking up review petitions filed by the Governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala challenging the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal’s 2007 verdict, the Supreme Court ruled last month that Tamil Nadu be provided with 177.5 TMC water (as against the 192 TMC proposed by the Tribunal) annually by Karnataka.  Stating rivers are national properties, it directed the Centre to set up a Cauvery Management Board within six weeks from the date of pronouncement of its verdict.

Karnataka chief-minister Siddaramaiah, who was apparently happy that Karnataka got more share of Cauvery water than it expected/needed, nevertheless registered his opposition to the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board.  In the meantime, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu convened an all-party meeting at the Secretariat wherein resolutions were passed urging the Prime Minister to set up the Cauvery Management Board at once as per the apex Court’s directions in this regard.

A few political parties are also planning to meet the Prime Minister in Delhi along with representatives of farmers’ associations.  Meanwhile, amid reports that Karnataka is to hold an all-party meeting on Wednesday (07th March) to discuss the issue, chief-minister Edapadi Palaniswami spoke to Stalin over phone yesterday to invite him to come for a meeting today (Saturday) to discuss further course of action on the issue.