Kerala CM and Ministers Skip PM Modi Event
“I had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and termed the move ‘political’ and ‘not befitting a democracy’,” said P A Mohammed Riyas, the Public Works Department Minister of Kerala, reflecting the sentiments of several state officials who chose to skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi.
The event, held on March 11, 2026, was marked by the inauguration of significant development projects, including the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66. However, the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers overshadowed the proceedings, amid a growing political controversy.
Riyas’s exclusion from the event was particularly contentious, as he claimed he had not received an invitation. His remarks highlighted a broader political rift, with state ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opting out, citing prior commitments.
Rajesh stated, “I am not attending the PM’s programme. Yesterday, I came to know that my name was included in the list. I already have scheduled programmes in my constituency.” This statement further fueled speculation about the political motivations behind their absence.
General Education Minister V Sivankutty described the exclusion of Riyas as “shocking” and “politically motivated”, suggesting that the incident was part of a larger strategy by the ruling party to consolidate its voter base.
In response, BJP leaders defended the invitation protocol, asserting that the Chief Minister was invited as per standard procedures. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, remarked, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol.”
Furthermore, BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan alleged that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing political discourse.
The National Highway development project, which includes the Thalappady-Chengala stretch and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, was revived after the Left Democratic Front government took power in 2016, following Chief Minister Vijayan’s intervention.
As the political fallout continues, the implications of this boycott on future collaborations between the state and central governments remain uncertain. Details remain unconfirmed.
