MK Stalin, the president of the DMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has declared plans for a large-scale protest in Thanjavur on August 3, 2026. He has accused the ruling TVK government of neglecting farmers’ concerns, particularly in relation to farm loan waivers, the Mekedatu dam project, and the delayed opening of the Mettur Dam.

According to a post shared on X, the protest will be spearheaded by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Stalin expressed disappointment over the farm loan waiver process, claiming it has failed to meet farmers’ needs. He also highlighted the adverse effects of the delayed Mettur Dam opening on Kuruvai cultivation, which he noted has been severely affected. He described the TVK government’s approach as lackadaisical regarding the Mekedatu dam matter and urged for urgent measures to resolve these pressing issues.

Stalin emphasised that the apathy displayed by the TVK government has driven farmers into distress and called for immediate action to ensure that Tamil Nadu receives its rightful share of Cauvery water. He reiterated the need for a special relief package aimed at supporting farmers in the Delta region, underlining the urgency of the situation.

Warning of Escalation in Protests

Stalin further warned the government of heightened protests should it continue to disregard the problems faced by farmers. He stated that if the current government remains indifferent to farmers’ grievances, it would ultimately face larger-scale demonstrations in the near future. His statements served as a rallying cry for those affected by the ongoing agricultural challenges.

In reaction to these developments, the Madras High Court has mandated that the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, and representatives from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti respond within two weeks to a petition submitted by the AIADMK. This petition seeks to dismiss an amendment passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly concerning the Mekedatu dam, which was alleged to have not been properly discussed before its adoption.

Specifically, the AIADMK alleged that the amendment was not included in the resolution copy sent to MLAs on June 18 and claimed that the resolution was misrepresented as having been passed unanimously. A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, has since instructed those involved to provide their responses and has scheduled a subsequent hearing.

Chief Minister’s Correspondence with the Centre

In an earlier development, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay, reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to protect the interests of lower riparian states concerning the Mekedatu project. He highlighted the necessity for any decisions related to the project to align with existing legal frameworks and judgments regarding Cauvery water disputes.

Vijay referenced a response from the Minister of State for Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha, which stated that the Supreme Court’s February 16, 2018 ruling did not explicitly require Karnataka to secure consent from lower riparian states before initiating construction across the Cauvery River. He expressed disappointment over this assertion, arguing that it disregarded established legal principles pertinent to the rights of lower riparian states.

Moreover, Vijay pointed to the Constitution Bench’s judgment in the case of State of Karnataka vs State of Andhra Pradesh about the Alamatti project, asserting that Karnataka should be unable to proceed with construction without such consent. He further reiterated that any project influencing the Cauvery’s regulated flow must be assessed for compliance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award.

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