India, July 25 -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's proposal to hold bilateral talks with Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the long-standing Cauvery water-sharing dispute has drawn opposition from farmers' organisations and political parties in the state.

Vijay is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on August 3 for talks with Shivakumar on the Cauvery water dispute and Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project. The meeting follows an invitation from the Karnataka government.

Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Vinoth confirmed the visit and reiterated the state's opposition to the Mekedatu project, saying Tamil Nadu would "never allow it to be constructed".

The proposal for direct talks has faced criticism from farmers' gro...