Kerala CM, Ministers Boycott PM Modi’s Kochi Event Over NH-66 Protocol Row

A political controversy erupted in Kerala on Wednesday after Pinarayi Vijayan , Chief Minister of the state, and several cabinet colleagues stayed away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official programme in Kochi. The event was organised to inaugurate key development projects, including major stretches of the six-lane expansion of National Highway-66 (NH-66) . The boycott followed allegations that Kerala’s Public Works Department Minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas had not been invited to the function despite his department’s involvement in the project.

During the visit, the prime minister inaugurated important highway projects including the Thalappady–Chengala stretch of NH-66 and the Vengalam–Ramanattukara section of the Kozhikode bypass. These projects are part of the broader six-lane expansion of the highway running along Kerala’s coastal belt. The development works are expected to improve road infrastructure, reduce travel time and strengthen freight movement across the state.

The controversy escalated after Riyas stated that he had not received any official invitation to the programme. He described the development as “not befitting a democracy” , pointing out that the Kerala government had played a key role in facilitating land acquisition and supporting the highway expansion process. State officials emphasised that Kerala had contributed significantly to the project’s implementation through administrative support and coordination.

The incident has also highlighted long-standing political tensions between the Centre and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala over credit for development projects. Leaders of the ruling CPI(M) argued that while national highway projects are executed by central agencies, the state government’s role in acquiring land and coordinating local procedures is equally crucial.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the boycott, accusing the state government of politicising development initiatives. Senior BJP leaders alleged that the move was aimed at influencing political narratives ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. Leaders of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) also reacted to the controversy, saying infrastructure projects should not become arenas for political confrontation.

The NH-66 expansion remains one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Kerala, connecting Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south. The upgraded highway is expected to boost trade, tourism and regional connectivity across the coastal corridor. However, the latest dispute has once again underlined the delicate nature of Centre–state relations , with political disagreements overshadowing a major development initiative.