Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday, 2 August convened an all-party meeting at his official residence, 'Krishna', in Bengaluru, bringing together leaders across the political spectrum to forge a unified state strategy on the long-running Cauvery River water dispute. The Congress-led state government is expected to finalise its position on releasing water to Tamil Nadu following the deliberations.

Why the Meeting Was Called

The all-party conclave was triggered by a recent ruling of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The CWMA rejected Karnataka's appeal against the order, leaving the state government under pressure to comply while protecting its own water needs.

Who Attended

The meeting drew an unusually broad cross-section of Karnataka's political establishment. Six former Chief Ministers — Veerappa Moily, Siddaramaiah, B.S. Yediyurappa, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Basavaraj Bommai — were present. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Union Ministers V. Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty also participated, alongside senior officials and legislators.

What Shivakumar Said

'The Cauvery dispute is not new to us. We have all grown up with this issue,' Shivakumar said in his opening remarks, stressing that Karnataka's farmers and people matter more than partisan politics. He reiterated that protecting drinking water needs remains the state's foremost priority. 'Our stand is that drinking water should receive the highest priority. I know that all of you fully support this position,' he added.

Shivakumar disclosed that ahead of the CWRC and CWMA meetings, he had personally met Union Ministers C.R. Patil, Pralhad Joshi, and V. Somanna, as well as former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, to brief them on Karnataka's concerns. 'They also raised the state's concerns at the Centre. I thank them for their support,' he said. He also acknowledged Karnataka Members of Parliament who pledged cross-party solidarity in safeguarding the state's interests.

Historical Context and What Is at Stake

The Cauvery dispute is one of India's oldest and most politically charged inter-state water conflicts, pitting Karnataka against Tamil Nadu over the allocation of the river's waters — a lifeline for farmers in both states. Karnataka has historically argued that its own reservoirs are critically low and that releasing water downstream compromises drinking water security for cities including Bengaluru. This all-party format mirrors previous emergency conclaves held during acute water-sharing crises, underscoring how the issue transcends normal partisan divides within the state.

What Happens Next

The meeting is expected to conclude with a consolidated legal and administrative strategy that Karnataka will present before the relevant federal water authorities. The state government's final decision on the CWMA-ordered release of 3,500 cusecs is anticipated after the deliberations end. Retired judge Nagamohan Das, the Chief Minister's Special Adviser G.C. Chandrashekar, Economic Adviser L.K. Atheeq, and Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Girinath are among the officials advising on the state's next steps.