Cauvery issue: CM Vijay agreed to postpone visit, says DK Shivkumar

Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay has agreed to postpone his Cauvery-related visit to Bengaluru following a request from the Karnataka government, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday, describing the gesture as one that would help maintain a cordial atmosphere between the two states. Shivakumar, who was supposed to hold discussions with Joseph Vijay over the inter-state dispute in Bengaluru on Monday said the latter has agreed to postpone his visit in view of the prevailing situation. Shivakumar said he had requested Vijay to defer the visit as emotions were running high in Karnataka.
“I have great respect for him. Though he may be new to politics, he is a courageous leader. I congratulated him on his bold decision. Whatever our political differences may be, he wanted to come to Karnataka. I only requested that we meet in a better and more cordial atmosphere because I don’t want anyone shouting against my friends. We should respect each other. We have to live together and work together. Ultimately, India is one,” Shivakumar told reporters after chairing an all-party meeting on Cauvery row.
Shivakumar had on Friday appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart to defer his August 3 visit to Bengaluru in view of the charged atmosphere in the state following the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s decision upholding the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s direction to Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. "For me, Tamil Nadu is one, and Karnataka is one. Ultimately, we are one," he said. Shivakumar reiterated that the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project was a long-term solution to the Cauvery issue and claimed that nearly 90 per cent of its benefits would accrue to Tamil Nadu.

"Atmosphere not conducive" Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar postpones meeting with Tamil Nadu CM Vijay, meeting was scheduled for Aug 3rd. DKS expressed apprehensions about the meeting following the decision of CWMA to release water to Tamil Nadu and the protests that followed. pic.twitter.com/7j1J9uwd99

— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) July 31, 2026

His appeal had come amid widespread protests across Karnataka, particularly in Mandya, where demonstrators tore posters of Vijay’s recently released film Jananayagan and forced theatres at some places to halt its screening. Shivakumar had said the state government had initially prepared to host the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for talks but had decided to seek a postponement to ensure the meeting takes place in a peaceful atmosphere after consultations with his Cabinet colleagues and legal team. 

(State Correspondent)