The issue of drinking water has become a prickly political debate in Telangana just days before the Lok Sabha elections. As water levels dip in reservoirs across the state, the government is hoping for assistance from neighboring state Karnataka. If Karnataka releases water from Narayanpur dam on Krishna river, it would help alleviate the looming water crisis in Hyderabad. However, Karnataka is facing its own water crisis and may only consider releasing water after the second phase of Lok Sabha polls ends. Bengaluru, which depends on Cauvery water and not Krishna river, fears that sharing water at this point would create controversy. Telangana officials believe that the present water levels can meet the drinking water requirements of Hyderabad until mid-May.