KCR prefers Yediyurappa over Jagan now?

The friendship between Telangana Chief Minister KCR and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was a treat for their fans to watch. They shared a camaraderie ever since Jagan became the CM in May 2019, and have regularly met each other in the years that followed.

The last time that Jagan and KCR met was in January 2021, when Jagan visited KCR in Pragathi Bhavan. After that, differences between the two Chief Ministers cropped up, over the sharing of Krishna and Godavari water, in between the two Telugu states. Jagan decided to construct the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation project by diverting Srisailam water on river Krishna, which did not sit well with KCR.

Following this, both the CMs registered complaints on the other with the Center, claiming that the other party is taking up illegal projects over Krishna and Godavari waters.

Disputes currently exist between both states, regarding the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) as well. The two Telugu states share these disputes with Karnataka, as the Tungabhadra River, on which the RDS is located, runs through the three states. Tungabhadra passes through the Gadwal district of Telangana, Kurnool district of AP, and Raichur district of Karnataka. Telangana is not getting its allotted 16TMC water from the RDS, over which KCR has decided to meet with Yediyurappa and not Jagan.

Jagan recently planned on digging a parallel canal at RDS to draw additional water into Andhra Pradesh, without consenting KCR, which is said to have angered the Telangana CM. As a result, KCR is said to have decided to meet with Karnataka CM Yediyurappa to resolve the matter and to stop Jagan from digging a parallel canal.