"We can always go to the Supreme Court you know, so that protection is there for every state," he a TV channel.

Asked if the Central leadership would allow the Karnataka unit of the party to go ahead with the move, the former Governor of Maharashtra, who has made a comeback into state politics said, "if it comes to that, we have no other alternative".

"We are not really concerned whether the DMK is going to be upset or it is going to have an impact on the Central Government, all that we are concerned is how does this project affect Karnataka in terms of the water sharing agreement between Karnataka and the Tamil Nadu," he said when asked whether the Congress will risk upsetting the DMK which is a coalition partner at the Centre.

The Central leadership of the party, however, had adopted a cautious approach yesterday saying the state units of the party in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were free to take their own stands in the matter.