Kerala Congress urges Centre to broker new Mullaperiyar dam pact, internal dissent surfaces
The Kerala Congress, a key ally in the United Democratic Front (UDF), has called on the Union government to facilitate a consensus between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar. In a resolution passed at a two-day state leadership camp held at Charalkunnu in Pathanamthitta district on July 24-25, 2026, the party described the new dam as the only lasting solution to the decades-old interstate water dispute.
The resolution urged the Centre to persuade the Supreme Court to help frame a proposal that guarantees the safety of Kerala's people through a new dam while ensuring Tamil Nadu receives its required water share. The party expressed confidence that such a framework would be acceptable to both states.
However, the meeting also saw sharp internal criticism of the Congress party, with several Kerala Congress leaders accusing the senior coalition partner of neglecting its allies. According to party sources, leaders complained that the Congress tends to behave as if it alone matters after elections. They stressed that the mandate was for the entire UDF, not just the Congress.
Discontent also surfaced over the denial of a second ministerial berth to the Kerala Congress, despite the party winning seven of the eight Assembly constituencies it contested in the recent elections. “There is discontent within the party over being denied a second ministerial berth despite winning seven of the eight Assembly constituencies it contested,” a senior party leader said, requesting anonymity.
Some leaders also demanded that the party stake a firm claim to key positions in statutory boards and other government bodies whenever appointments are made, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with the distribution of patronage.
The camp was inaugurated by Kerala Congress chairman P.J. Joseph and addressed by Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph, who is a senior leader of the party. The Mullaperiyar dam, located on the Periyar River in Kerala but operated by Tamil Nadu, has been a source of tension between the two states for decades, with Kerala citing safety concerns and Tamil Nadu asserting its water rights.
