Kerala CM, Ministers to Boycott PM’s Event Over Exclusion of PWD Minister
Pinarayi Vijayan, colleagues stay away from inauguration of NH-66 projects as Riyas says he received no invitation
Kochi, Mar 11: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several state ministers stayed away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official function in Kochi on Wednesday amid controversy over the alleged exclusion of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister P A Mohammed Riyas from the event.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate a series of infrastructure projects in the state, including the first stretch of the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, during a programme slated for 12.30 pm in Kochi.
Among the projects to be launched are the Thalappady–Chengala section of NH-66 and the Vengalam–Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, both upgraded to six lanes to enhance road connectivity and ease traffic movement.
Government sources said Vijayan would not attend the event even though his name appears in the official programme schedule. No specific reason was formally cited for the chief minister’s decision.
State ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty, who were also invited to the event, said they would not participate, citing personal reasons.
Reacting to the controversy, PWD Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said he had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and described the situation as “not befitting a democracy”. He pointed out that the state government had played a significant role in the development of national highways by facilitating land acquisition and contributing funds.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan accused the ruling CPI(M) and the state government of attempting to consolidate Muslim votes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections by boycotting the prime minister’s programme.
