India, June 19 -- BENGALURU Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said he was ready to hold talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at any time on the long pending Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project, saying both states should keep politics aside and focus on the interests of their people.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said he had no reservations about engaging with Tamil Nadu and described the Cauvery as a shared river whose waters must serve people in both states.

"I am ready to talk to Tamil Nadu at any point regarding the Mekedatu project. I have no reservations in this regard. Whether it is Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, we are one nation and one people. We all depend on the waters o...