TN BJP will support any step taken by state govt on Cauvery:

Amid protests in parts of Tamil Nadu demanding constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today said the state BJP unit would support any step taken by the state government on the issue.

He dismissed the view that the Centre was not making any effort to form the CWMB in view of the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls.

"The central government is not having the forthcoming Karnataka state assembly polls in mind on the Cauvery Management board issue," he told reporters here.

The Supreme Court had on February 16 pronounced its verdict on the Cauvery dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Ever since, the lower riparian Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre to set up CWMB and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) to ensure it receives its due share of water.

Tamil Nadu's stand is that the Centre must constitute the panels within six weeks from the day the apex court gave its verdict, which would be March 29.

The apex court had given a six-week deadline to the Centre to formulate a scheme ending today.

The CWMB issue could be resolved if the Supreme Court clarified on the "scheme" programme, Radhakrishnan said.

The BJP's Tamil Nadu unit would support the state government on any step taken by it regarding the Cauvery issue, he said.

Tamil Nadu should not give up its rights, he added.

Protests were held in some parts of the state, demanding the immediate formation of the CWMB.

Farmers' associations and fringe outfits held protests in Thanjavur, Tirunelveli and Dindigul.