TN to finalise stand on Cauvery at all-party meet

Chennai, Feb 18 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will finalise its stand on the vexed Cauvery issue at an all-party meeting convened by it tomorrow to discuss the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

The state government had already decided to move the tribunal and take legal recourse to redress the ''shortcomings'' in the final award and is likely to get the stamp of approval for its moves during tomorrow's meeting.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi would preside over the meeting to be held at Secretariat here. Besides DMK's allies --the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), CPI(M), CPI and the Dalit Panthers of India, leaders of the Opposition AIADMK, MDMK and BJP among others, would also take part.

Initially, the DMK Government was hesitant about convening the meeting but relented after various political parties, mainly the PMK, demanded the government convene the meeting immediately to analyse the award.

Mr Karunanidhi had earlier maintained the meeting could be convened only after due consideration.

''If the meeting results in anything fruitful, it's good. It should not lead to unfavourable consequences,'' he said.

MORE UNI