Political Tensions Surround PM Modi’s Visit
“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, Kerala’s Public Works Department Minister, regarding his absence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on March 11, 2026.
Riyas’s comments come amid a growing political row over his exclusion from the event, which included the inauguration of significant development projects, such as the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66. The absence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several other ministers has further fueled the controversy.
State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also did not attend the event, with Rajesh explaining, “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.” Their absence has raised questions about the political dynamics at play.
General Education Minister V Sivankutty described the exclusion of Riyas as “shocking” and “politically motivated,” indicating a broader sentiment among the Left Democratic Front (LDF) members regarding the perceived slight against Riyas.
In response, BJP leaders asserted that the Chief Minister was invited according to protocol and that Riyas’s exclusion was not necessary. BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan alleged 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, had been revived after the LDF government came to power in 2016, following the intervention of Chief Minister Vijayan. This historical context adds weight to the current political tensions surrounding the event.
Projects inaugurated included the Thalappady-Chengala stretch of NH 66 and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass, marking significant progress in infrastructure development in the state.
As the situation unfolds, the political implications of the ministers’ absence and the exclusion of Riyas are likely to remain a topic of discussion in Kerala’s political landscape. Details remain unconfirmed.
