Vijayawada, Oct 2026 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday joined his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu at Vijayawada Utsav 2.0, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the audience as he briefly addressed the gathering in Telugu during the Navaratri celebrations at Punnami Ghat on the banks of the Krishna River.
Vijay, who was on his first visit to Andhra Pradesh since assuming office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, extended his festive greetings and thanked the people of Vijayawada for their warm hospitality. His visit combined cultural engagements with discussions on river-water sharing and proposals to link major rivers in southern India.
“I am very happy to meet all of you. I consider it a privilege to participate in these Navaratri celebrations,” Vijay said, expressing his happiness at being part of the annual festival.
Explaining the purpose of his visit, he said he had travelled to Vijayawada to discuss river interlinking with Naidu. He also extended his Navaratri greetings to the people and said he was delighted to meet them.
Earlier in the day, Vijay visited the Kanaka Durga Temple and offered prayers to the presiding deity before meeting Naidu for official discussions.
River-water sharing and interlinking in focus
The two Chief Ministers held talks on water-sharing arrangements between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, including the supply of Krishna river water to Chennai. They also discussed proposals for linking rivers, with the proposed Godavari-Cauvery interlinking project emerging as an important subject.
The discussions assumed significance against the backdrop of the water requirements of southern states and the need to explore ways to improve the availability and distribution of water resources.
The Godavari-Cauvery proposal has long been discussed as a possible mechanism to transfer surplus water from the Godavari basin towards water-stressed regions in southern India. Naidu expressed confidence that river interlinking could benefit several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka.
However, no formal agreement, implementation schedule or specific decision on the proposals was announced following Tuesday’s meeting. The details of the two governments’ positions on individual projects and possible follow-up consultations were also not disclosed.
Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister, Chief Secretary and other senior officials attended the discussions. Tamil Nadu ministers Anand and Aadhav Arjuna accompanied Vijay, while Naidu welcomed the visiting Chief Minister with a bouquet.
Vijay arrived in Vijayawada aboard a private aircraft at around 3.45 pm and was received by Andhra Pradesh ministers on behalf of the state government.
Naidu praises Vijay’s political rise
Addressing the gathering at Vijayawada Utsav 2.0, Naidu welcomed Vijay and congratulated the organisers for putting together the festival. He described the occasion as special because it marked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s first visit to Vijayawada since taking office.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate the organisers and the committee. This is Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Thalapathy's first visit to Vijayawada since assuming office. It was Goddess Durga herself who brought him here,” Naidu said.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister praised Vijay’s political journey, observing that he had become Chief Minister within two years of launching his political party. He said Vijay was working towards the development of Tamil Nadu and noted that the enthusiasm of young people offered hope for the country's future.
Naidu stressed that although the southern states had separate governments and regional priorities, their broader objective should be shared prosperity and national development.
“Seeing the enthusiasm of the youth gives me confidence that the youth of our country can achieve anything in the world. Although our states are different, our objective is the same: the nation must prosper, and states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka must all develop,” he said.
Referring to the proposed river-linking initiatives, Naidu expressed confidence that the Godavari and Cauvery could eventually be connected. He said linking the Penna, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers could bring benefits to four states.
“Anything is possible under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The interlinking of the Godavari and Cauvery rivers will take place. If the Penna, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers are connected, four states will benefit,” Naidu said.
He also expressed confidence that India would emerge as the world's leading nation by 2047.
Festival showcases Vijayawada’s cultural heritage
Vijayawada Utsav 2.0, an initiative of Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath, popularly known as Chinni, seeks to showcase the city's hospitality, traditions, cultural diversity and spiritual heritage to audiences across the country.
The festival featured colourful cultural performances and traditional dances, which Vijay and Naidu watched together. The presence of the two Chief Ministers added political significance to the celebrations, bringing together leaders from two neighbouring states with longstanding water-sharing concerns and common development interests.
Vijay’s participation in the festival also provided an opportunity to strengthen public engagement between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh beyond formal government meetings.
The visit highlighted the importance of cooperation between the southern states on water management, infrastructure and regional development. While the discussions on river sharing and interlinking have yet to produce publicly announced commitments, both leaders emphasised the potential benefits of collaboration.
For Vijay, the visit marked an important early engagement with Andhra Pradesh after taking charge as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. For Naidu, the occasion offered an opportunity to reiterate his support for regional cooperation and ambitious river-linking proposals as part of India's longer-term development goals.
