Skip: Kerala CM and Ministers PM Modi Event Amid Controversy

Kerala CM and Ministers Skip PM Modi Event Amid Controversy

“I had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and termed the move ‘political’ and ‘not befitting a democracy’,” stated P A Mohammed Riyas, Kerala’s Public Works Department Minister, regarding his exclusion from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on March 11, 2026.

Riyas’s absence, along with that of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state ministers, has sparked a political row, particularly over the circumstances surrounding Riyas’s invitation. The Prime Minister inaugurated several development projects during the event, including the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, a significant infrastructure initiative in the state.

State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opted not to attend, citing prior commitments in their constituencies. Rajesh remarked, “I am not attending the PM’s programme. Yesterday, I came to know that my name was included in the list.” This statement reflects the confusion and lack of communication that has characterized the event.

Riyas further criticized the exclusion as politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who described the situation as “shocking” and “politically motivated”. The ongoing tensions between the Kerala government and the BJP have intensified, with accusations flying from both sides.

BJP leaders, however, defended the protocol followed during the event. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, stated, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol,” suggesting that the absence of Riyas was unwarranted.

Amid these political dynamics, BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan alleged that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event. This claim underscores the complex interplay of politics and community relations in Kerala.

The National Highway development project, which includes the Thalappady-Chengala stretch and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, was revitalized after the Left Democratic Front government assumed power in 2016, following the intervention of Chief Minister Vijayan.

Kerala has been noted as the first state in India where the state government directly allocated funds for national highway development, marking a significant shift in infrastructure policy.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this event and the responses from both the Kerala government and the BJP will be closely monitored. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further developments or statements from the involved parties.