AIADMK and Farmers Association Oppose Amended Mekedatu Assembly Resolution
On Friday, June 19, 2026, the AIADMK and the CPI-affiliated Tamil Nadu Farmers Association voiced strong opposition to an amended resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai. The resolution, which strongly opposes the Karnataka government's proposed Mekedatu dam project, was amended to call for a tribunal to resolve the inter-state river water dispute.
The dispute arose shortly after the legislative assembly initially passed a unanimous resolution against the dam. Following its passage, the Tamil Nadu government sent a copy of the resolution to the Union government on Friday evening.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami issued a statement on Friday night, explaining that while his party supported the initial resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, they could not support the amended version. Palaniswami claimed the amendment was introduced following a demand by leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, but was put to a vote without being properly proposed, seconded, or discussed.
Palaniswami argued that the Speaker, J.C.D. Prabhakar, violated Assembly rules by declaring the amended resolution passed. He questioned the legitimacy of the decision, stating that the amended version cannot be considered a government resolution.
During the session, Udhayanidhi Stalin explained the background of the amendment, stating that the previous DMK regime, under the instructions of then Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, had written to the Union Jal Shakti ministry on March 4. That letter sought the constitution of a tribunal, arguing that Karnataka's actions constituted a water dispute since no single state can claim exclusive rights over an inter-state river.
The DMK regime's letter asserted that an upper riparian state must not take actions that affect scheduled water releases, interfere with the integrated operation of designated reservoirs, or obstruct flows from the uncontrolled catchment above Biligundulu.
