Bengaluru: There are reports coming in that water politics is being played out in Bengaluru and Mandya. While Karnataka chief minister’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is pitted against Sumalatha, citizens of Bengaluru might suffer from parched throats.

If reports are anything to go by, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has asked officials of water department to stop the flow of drinking water to Bengaluru, originating from the river Cauvery. He has further asked them to divert the drinking water meant for Bengaluru to Mandya so that it will be beneficial for farmers of Mandya to cultivate paddy crops.

This being summer, the government itself issues advisory to the farmers of Mandya not to cultivate paddy crops as they are water guzzlers. But with HD Kumaraswamy’s directions, as many as 13 tmc of water, earmarked for Bengaluru will be diverted to Mandya.

This move is being seen as a measure and ploy to entice farmers of Mandya to vote for Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

“For the sake of votes, we can’t distinguish and discriminate between citizens. No political agenda is good at the cost of the citizens. If HD Kumaraswamy is resorting to giving water to Mandya at the cost of the citizens of Bengaluru, it is absolute nepotism. He can’t be sacrificing the drinking water needs of Bengaluru for his son. It reveals his mindset that whatever he does, he does for the sake of votes,” said Shreenath Sheshadri, a BJP spokesperson.

But interestingly, when sought reactions on the issue by Sumalatha herself, she said she would support the move!

“The needs of the farmers have to be given the utmost importance. If the move is to help them out, I welcome it. Without the farmers being taken care of well, we (the other citizens) can’t live happily,” said Sumalatha.

Mandya will go to polls on April 18.