“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 PWD Minister of Kerala, in response to his exclusion from an official event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi on March 11, 2026.

The event, which saw the inauguration of various development projects including the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66, was marked by the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several other ministers. Their decision to skip the event has sparked a political row, particularly surrounding Riyas’s exclusion.

Riyas emphasized that he had not received any invitation, which he described as a significant oversight. His comments reflect a growing discontent within the state government regarding the treatment of its ministers in federal events.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty echoed Riyas’s sentiments, calling the exclusion “shocking” and “politically motivated.” This sentiment underscores the tensions between the state government led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the central government, which is dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opted not to attend the event, with Rajesh stating, “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 further highlights the discord surrounding the event.

BJP leaders, however, defended the protocol followed in inviting the Chief Minister, asserting that the exclusion of Riyas was unnecessary. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, remarked, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol.”

Critics within the BJP, such as B Gopalakrishnan, have accused the state government of attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the Prime Minister’s event, suggesting that the political implications of this decision extend beyond mere attendance.

The National Highway development project, which includes significant stretches like the Thalappady-Chengala and Vengalam-Ramanattukara, was revitalized after the LDF government took office in 2016, marking a pivotal moment in Kerala’s infrastructure development.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this event and the reactions from both sides will likely shape future interactions between the state and central governments.

Details remain unconfirmed.

The post Skip: Kerala CM and Ministers PM Modi Event Amid Controversy appeared first on .