Skip: Kerala CM and Ministers PM Modi Event Amid Political Row
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 state’s Public Works Department Minister, regarding his absence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on March 11, 2026.
The event, which included the inauguration of various development projects such as the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, was marred by political controversy. Riyas’s exclusion from the guest list sparked a backlash, leading to the absence of other state ministers, including M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty, who cited personal reasons for their non-attendance.
Riyas further claimed that he had not received any official invitation, which he viewed as a deliberate political maneuver. His sentiments were echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who described the exclusion as “shocking” and “politically motivated”.
In defense of the protocol followed, BJP leaders asserted that the Chief Minister was invited according to standard procedures, and the exclusion of Riyas was unnecessary. BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan went as far as to allege that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event.
The National Highway development project, which was inaugurated during the event, has historical significance as it was revived after the Left Democratic Front government took power in 2016, following the intervention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Among the projects inaugurated were the Thalappady-Chengala stretch of NH 66 and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, marking a significant investment in Kerala’s infrastructure.
Rajesh, addressing his absence, remarked, “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 underscores the ongoing tensions between the state government and the central administration.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these absences and the surrounding controversies may have lasting effects on the relationship between Kerala’s government and the BJP-led central government.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further developments following this incident, but the political ramifications are expected to unfold in the coming days.
