Kerala CM, Ministers Boycott PM Modi’s Kochi Event Over ‘PWD Minister Exclusion’

Kochi, March 11: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several state ministers will skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on Wednesday, reportedly over the exclusion of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas from the programme.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate multiple development projects, including the first stretch of the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, during the event around 12.30 pm.

The projects include the Thalappady–Chengala stretch of NH-66 and the Vengalam–Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, both upgraded to six lanes.

Though Vijayan’s name appears on the official programme list, sources said the Chief Minister will not attend the function. No formal reason was publicly cited for his absence.

State ministers M.B. Rajesh and K. Krishnankutty, who were also invited, said they would skip the event citing personal reasons.

Responding to the development, PWD Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas said he had not received any official invitation and described the situation as “not befitting a democracy.” He added that the Kerala government had played a major role in the highway project by facilitating land acquisition and contributing funds.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader B. Gopalakrishnan alleged that the state government and the CPI(M) were attempting to consolidate Muslim votes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections by boycotting the Prime Minister’s programme.