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’,” stated P A Mohammed Riyas, the PWD Minister of Kerala, regarding his absence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on March 11, 2026.
The event, which saw the inauguration of several development projects including the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, was overshadowed by a political row. Riyas’s exclusion from the guest list has sparked significant controversy, with state ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opting not to attend, citing prior commitments.
Riyas expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that he had not been formally invited and suggesting that the exclusion was politically motivated. He remarked, “The exclusion of Riyas is ‘shocking’ and ‘politically motivated’,” a sentiment echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty.
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 came to power in 2016, following the intervention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
BJP leaders defended the invitation protocol, asserting that the Chief Minister was invited as per standard procedures. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, stated, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol.” However, BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan alleged that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event.
This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions in Kerala, particularly between the ruling Left Democratic Front and the opposition BJP. The exclusion of key ministers from significant events raises questions about the nature of political engagement and representation in the state.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further developments or responses from the Chief Minister’s office regarding this incident.
