“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 state’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 political row that has intensified in Kerala, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several ministers notably skipped the event. The Prime Minister was present to inaugurate various development projects, including the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66.

State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also did not attend, 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 eyebrows and sparked discussions about the underlying motivations.

Riyas further claimed that he had not received any official invitation, which he interpreted as a deliberate exclusion. He described the situation as politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who labeled the exclusion of Riyas as “shocking” and “politically motivated”.

The backdrop to this controversy lies in the revival of the National Highway development project, which was initiated after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government took power in 2016, following Chief Minister Vijayan’s intervention.

BJP leaders have countered these claims, asserting that the Chief Minister was invited according to protocol and that the exclusion of Riyas was unnecessary. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, emphasized, “As head of the state, the CM was invited in accordance with the protocol.”

Additionally, BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan alleged that the state government was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes by boycotting the PM’s event, further complicating the political landscape.

The projects inaugurated during the event included significant stretches of the National Highway, such as the Thalappady-Chengala stretch and the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass.

Kerala has historically been a pioneer in national highway development, being the first state in India to directly allocate state funds for such projects.

As the political situation evolves, the implications of these absences and the surrounding controversies will likely continue to unfold in the coming days.

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“I had not received any official communication inviting him to the function and termed the move ‘political’ and ‘not befitting a democracy’.” This statement from P A Mohammed Riyas, the Public Works Department Minister of Kerala, encapsulates the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official event in Kochi on March 11, 2026.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several ministers, including Riyas, did not attend the event, which was marked by the inauguration of various development projects, notably the six-lane expansion of National Highway 66. The absence of these key officials has raised eyebrows amid ongoing political tensions.

The backdrop of this situation involves a political row over Riyas’s exclusion from the event. He claimed he had not received any official invitation, which he interpreted as a deliberate political maneuver. His comments reflect a broader sentiment among some state officials regarding the treatment of local leaders in national events.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty expressed his dismay, stating that the exclusion of Riyas was “shocking” and “politically motivated.” This sentiment echoes concerns within the state government about the implications of such exclusions on democratic practices.

Adding to the controversy, BJP leaders asserted that the Chief Minister was invited according to protocol and that Riyas’s absence 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.

State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty also opted not to attend, with Rajesh citing prior commitments in his constituency. He remarked, “I am not attending the PM’s programme. Yesterday, I came to know that my name was included in the list.” This statement underscores the confusion surrounding the invitations.

The National Highway development project, which includes significant stretches of NH 66, was revitalized after the Left Democratic Front government took power in 2016, following the intervention of Chief Minister Vijayan. This project has been a crucial aspect of Kerala’s infrastructure development.

As the political landscape evolves, the implications of this event and the reactions from both state and national leaders will be closely monitored. The controversy surrounding the exclusion of key ministers raises questions about the relationship between state and central governments in India.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the political ramifications stemming from this incident. The situation continues to unfold as both sides prepare for potential future developments.

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