The Cauvery Conundrum: Why Mekedatu Project Has Split Congress Down The Middle

Key points

• The Cauvery Conundrum: Why Mekedatu Project Has Split Congress Down The Middle Written By, Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 15:21 IST Karnataka argues that the reservoir is primarily meant to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding regions while also generating hydroelectric power Rapid Read Manickam Tagore (Left) and DK Shivakumar (Right) have locked horns over the Mekedatu project.
• It’s a problem the Congress is no stranger to.
• Even before the dust had settled on DK Shivakumar’s elevation as Karnataka chief minister, the party finds itself battling a familiar problem—being in direct conflict with itself.
• The latest flashpoint is the long-pending Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river, which Karnataka sees as crucial for Bengaluru’s drinking water needs, but Tamil Nadu fears could reduce downstream water availability.
• The issue has now triggered an unusual confrontation between Karnataka Congress leaders backing the project and Tamil Nadu Congress leaders opposing it, exposing...