“I had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and termed the move ‘political’ and ‘not befitting a democracy’.” This statement from P A Mohammed Riyas, Kerala’s Public Works Department Minister, encapsulates the growing tensions following the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several ministers at 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, it was overshadowed by a political row concerning Riyas’s exclusion from the guest list.

Riyas claimed he had not received any invitation, which he described as a deliberate political move. His sentiments were echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who called the exclusion “shocking” and “politically motivated.” The absence of other state ministers, such as M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty, who cited personal reasons for their non-attendance, further complicated the situation.

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 remark highlights the confusion surrounding the invitation process.

The BJP, represented by leaders like Rajeev Chandrasekhar, defended the protocol followed in inviting the Chief Minister, asserting that the exclusion of Riyas was unnecessary. Chandrasekhar remarked, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol.”

BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan suggested that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event, adding another layer to the political narrative.

The National Highway development project, which was revived after the Left Democratic Front government took power in 2016, has been a focal point of development in Kerala. The projects inaugurated during Modi’s visit included the Thalappady-Chengala stretch of NH 66 and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this event and the responses from both the state government and the BJP will be closely monitored. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential follow-up actions or statements from the involved parties.

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