BJP accuses Congress of double standards on Mekedatu project in Karnataka
Synopsis
BJP's R. Ashoka has called out what he describes as Congress's most glaring contradiction — championing the Mekedatu project in Karnataka while staying silent as its Tamil Nadu allies oppose it. With the Mekedatu Padayatra now being labelled a vote-gathering exercise and Rahul Gandhi directly questioned, the inter-state water dispute has turned into a test of Congress's credibility in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
BJP Leader of the Opposition R.
Ashoka on 19 June accused the Congress of holding contradictory positions on the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project .
Ashoka alleged that Tamil Nadu Congress units and ruling alliance partners in Tamil Nadu have opposed the project while Karnataka Congress leaders publicly support it.
He questioned whether the Congress-led Mekedatu Padayatra was a genuine fight for Karnataka's water rights or a pre-election political exercise.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was directly asked to clarify the party's stand on Karnataka's claim over the Mekedatu project.
The charge came a day after Karnataka CM D.K.
Shivakumar expressed willingness to hold talks with Tamil Nadu CM C.
Joseph Vijay on the project.
The Mekedatu project is proposed on the Cauvery river for drinking water supply to Bengaluru and power generation; Tamil Nadu opposes it over Cauvery water-sharing concerns.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka R. Ashoka on Friday, 19 June accused the Congress of maintaining contradictory positions on the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, alleging the party had repeatedly sacrificed Karnataka's interests to protect political alliances in Tamil Nadu. The charge came a day after Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he was open to talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on the long-pending project.
What Ashoka Alleged
In a statement issued on Friday, Ashoka claimed the Congress had once again revealed what he termed its 'double standards' — backing the Mekedatu project within Karnataka while staying aligned with political forces in Tamil Nadu that have openly opposed it. 'The Congress has once again shown that whenever it is forced to choose between Karnataka's interests and its political compulsions, Karnataka becomes the casualty,' Ashoka alleged.
He pointed out that parties in the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu have publicly opposed the Mekedatu project, and claimed that the Tamil Nadu Congress unit has stood alongside those opposing Karnataka's demand — even as Congress leaders in Karnataka have projected themselves as staunch supporters of the project.
Mekedatu Padayatra Under Scrutiny
Ashoka specifically targeted Chief Minister Shivakumar over the Congress-led Mekedatu Padayatra — a high-profile march organised to press for the project's implementation. He questioned whether the march was a genuine fight for Karnataka's water rights or a political exercise aimed at consolidating votes ahead of elections.
'Was the much-publicised Mekedatu Padayatra a genuine fight for Karnataka's interests or merely a political exercise aimed at securing votes?' he asked. He alleged that Shivakumar and other Congress leaders who organised the march were now remaining silent while their own party leaders and alliance partners opposed the project.
Direct Question to Rahul Gandhi
Addressing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi directly, Ashoka sought clarity on whether the party would firmly back Karnataka's claim over the Mekedatu project despite opposition from its Tamil Nadu allies. 'Congress has repeatedly invoked the Mekedatu issue during elections, appealed to the sentiments of farmers and projected itself as the defender of Karnataka's water rights. Today, the party stands exposed with one position in Karnataka and another in Tamil Nadu,' he alleged.
Ashoka maintained that the issue extended beyond a development project, touching on the state's farmers, water security, and long-term development. He said the people of Karnataka were closely watching and would judge political parties on their commitment to the state's interests.
Background: The Mekedatu Dispute
The Mekedatu project has remained one of the most contentious inter-state water disputes in South India. Karnataka argues that the proposed balancing reservoir on the Cauvery river is essential for drinking water supply to Bengaluru and for power generation. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the project, citing concerns over water sharing under the Cauvery basin arrangement. The dispute has remained unresolved for years, cutting across party lines and state boundaries.
This is not the first time the Mekedatu project has become a flashpoint between the two states — or within the Congress itself, which governs Karnataka but must navigate its alliance calculus in Tamil Nadu. With CM Shivakumar now signalling willingness for direct talks with his Tamil Nadu counterpart, how the Congress responds to Ashoka's challenge could shape the political narrative around the project in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Which was designed to outflank the BJP on Kannada sub-nationalism, now risks looking like exactly what Ashoka says it was — electoral theatre. The deeper problem for Congress is that the Cauvery dispute does not allow for a comfortable middle position: any meaningful push for Mekedatu will cost it in Tamil Nadu, and any softening will cost it in Karnataka. CM Shivakumar's offer of direct talks with his Tamil Nadu counterpart is pragmatic, but it also opens the door to the charge that Karnataka's demands are being negotiated away rather than asserted. The BJP, sitting in opposition in Karnataka, has little to lose and everything to gain by keeping this contradiction in the spotlight.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project?
The Mekedatu project is a proposed balancing reservoir on the Cauvery river in Karnataka, intended to ensure drinking water supply to Bengaluru and generate hydroelectric power. Karnataka has long pushed for its construction, but Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed it, citing concerns over Cauvery water-sharing arrangements.
Why is BJP accusing Congress of double standards on Mekedatu?
BJP Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has alleged that Congress supports the Mekedatu project in Karnataka for electoral reasons while its Tamil Nadu unit and ruling alliance partners in Tamil Nadu oppose the same project. He argued this exposes a fundamental contradiction in the party's position on Karnataka's water rights.
What was the Mekedatu Padayatra and why is it being questioned?
The Mekedatu Padayatra was a march organised by Congress leaders, including CM D.K. Shivakumar, to press for the implementation of the Mekedatu project. Ashoka has questioned whether it was a genuine campaign for Karnataka's interests or a political exercise to win votes, given that Congress has not acted decisively to push the project forward.
What did Karnataka CM Shivakumar say about talks with Tamil Nadu?
A day before Ashoka's statement, Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar said he was open to discussions with Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay at any time on the Mekedatu project, urging both states to set aside politics and focus on the interests of their people.
Who is affected by the Mekedatu dispute?
Farmers and residents of Karnataka who depend on Cauvery water are most directly affected, as the proposed reservoir is meant to secure drinking water for Bengaluru and support agricultural needs. Tamil Nadu farmers and communities downstream are also stakeholders, fearing reduced water flows if the project goes ahead.
