Kerala CM and Ministers Skip PM Modi Event Amid Political Controversy
“I had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and termed the move ‘political’ and ‘not befitting a democracy’.” These words from P A Mohammed Riyas, Kerala’s Public Works Department Minister, encapsulate the political tensions surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent event in Kochi, which was marked by the absence of key state officials.
On March 11, 2026, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several ministers, including Riyas, did not attend the Prime Minister’s official function. This event was significant as it included the inauguration of various development projects, notably the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66.
The backdrop to this absence lies in a political row over Riyas’s exclusion from the event. Riyas expressed that he had not received any official invitation, which he described as a politically motivated decision. His sentiments were echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who called the exclusion “shocking” and “politically motivated.”
In addition to Riyas, State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opted out of the event, citing prior commitments. 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.”
On the other side, BJP leaders defended the protocol followed in inviting the Chief Minister, asserting that Riyas’s exclusion was unnecessary. BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan went further, alleging 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 a history of revival following the Left Democratic Front government’s rise to power in 2016, thanks to Chief Minister Vijayan’s intervention. This project is notable as Kerala was the first state in India to directly invest in national highway development.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this event and the reactions from both sides are likely to unfold in the coming days. The controversy surrounding the exclusion of Riyas and the absence of state ministers raises questions about the ongoing relationship between the Kerala government and the central administration.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further developments or statements from the involved parties. The situation remains fluid as both sides navigate the political ramifications of this incident.
