Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar on 2 August accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of colluding with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to obstruct the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, alleging that the opposition party is motivated by a desire to deny Chief Minister Vijay political credit for resolving the long-standing inter-state water dispute.

What the Minister Alleged

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Nirmal Kumar charged that the DMK was actively working to prevent the Vijay government from securing Tamil Nadu's legitimate share of Cauvery water. He framed the opposition's conduct as politically driven rather than rooted in any concern for the state's water rights.

'The DMK does not want Chief Minister Vijay to earn goodwill among the people. That is why it is creating obstacles in the Cauvery issue along with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar,' Nirmal Kumar alleged.

Criticism of AIADMK and Call for Unity

The Minister also turned his attention to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), questioning why the party had opted to approach the courts over the Cauvery dispute rather than pressing the issue forcefully on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He argued that such fragmented strategies weakened the state's collective bargaining position.

Referring to calls for an all-party meeting on the dispute, Nirmal Kumar acknowledged a lack of political consensus in Tamil Nadu on the issue, while insisting that inter-party differences must not be allowed to dilute the state's pursuit of its rightful water share.

Response to DMK's Isolation Charge

Responding to DMK president M.K. Stalin's claim that Chief Minister Vijay had become politically isolated, Nirmal Kumar dismissed the assertion, saying such remarks would have no bearing on Tamil Nadu's interests or its people. He maintained that the government would continue to pursue the state's water rights regardless of opposition criticism.

Karnataka Dimension: Congress and Shivakumar

Nirmal Kumar also targeted Karnataka CM Shivakumar directly, questioning whether the Indian National Congress (Congress) leadership was in a position to exert meaningful influence over him on the Cauvery issue. He alleged that Shivakumar was disinclined to heed the Congress high command and was reportedly more responsive to DMK president Stalin — a claim that, if accurate, would point to a cross-state political alignment working against Tamil Nadu's water interests.

The Broader Cauvery Flashpoint

The Cauvery water dispute has re-emerged as a major political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling dispensation and opposition parties exchanging accusations over the strategy best suited to secure the state's stipulated share from Karnataka. This comes amid a pattern of recurring political mobilisation around the river dispute, which has historically inflamed sentiment across both states. The government, Nirmal Kumar asserted, remains committed to pursuing Tamil Nadu's water rights irrespective of the political noise surrounding the issue.