The Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery, increasing the water share of Karnataka, could not have come at a more opportune time for the ruling Congress in the state, which goes to polls in April.
The Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery, increasing the water share of Karnataka, could not have come at a more opportune time for the ruling Congress in the state, which goes to polls in April.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was battling the BJP on one hand and an umbrella alliance of Janata Dal (S), BSP and NCP on the other, would have been caught in a bind had the SC judgment in any way turned out to be disadvantageous for the state.
Security was beefed up in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other affected regions hours before the verdict came to ensure that law and order is not affected.
In Tamil Nadu, political ripples already started after the verdict with superstar Rajinikanth who a couple of months taken plunge into politics said that Cauvery verdict was disappointing and asked Tamil Nadu government to take steps to file a review petition.
Film star Kamal Haasan, on the cusp of beginning his political journey appealed to both states to maintain amity in wake of the judgment, also voiced disappointment over the apex court awarding lower quantum of water to Tamil Nadu.
In the verdict, Tamil Nadu’s water share has been reduced, while the portion for Karnataka has been increased. Karnataka will now release 177.25tmc (thousand million cubic feet) to Tamil Nadu instead of 192tmc.
A month before the verdict came, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami had written to Siddaramaiah, requesting a meeting over Cauvery.
The meeting did not materialise. Any impression of conceding to the demand of Tamil Nadu would have hurt the Kannadiga constituency and Sidharamaiah being a prudent politician would have been the last one to risk such a scenario.
The verdict has come as a shot in the arm for the Congress ahead of polls more so in the South Karnataka region where the party is face to face with an umbrella alliance of Deve Gowda-led JD(S). Siddaramaiah, who was at the centre of attack in last quarter of 2016, being painted as anti-farmer and accused of releasing water pressure to Tamil Nadu under the SC, can now very well turn the narrative to his advantage. He could now claim to have protected the interests of farmers in the Cauvery delta. The region, with irrigation woes, had recorded large number of farmer deaths in past.
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