Political row over omitting Kerala CM from PM Modi’s function

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has decided to keep away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s function in Kollam in south Kerala after organisers bluntly told him his name was omitted from the guest list.

Initially, Chandy was one of the main guests but later was told to keep away from the ceremony to unveil the statue of former CM R Shankar. An upset Chandy said on Saturday that Vellapally Natesan, SNDP (Sree Narayana Dharmaparipalana Yogam) general secretary, the main organiser of the event, had called and asked him to skip the event.

“I am really saddened that I will not be able to attend the meet. I was told that some quarters are against my presence. I will inform the PM why I had to back off from the event,” he said.

However, Chandy said he will go to Kochi on Monday to receive the PM who will visit the state from December 14-15.

Natesan justified his action, saying it was purely a private function and some guests had threatened to boycott it if Chandy attended.

He also said the Intelligence Bureau had warned that some SNDP activists could create trouble if the CM attended. “I was told about the IB warning at the eleventh hour. Since the state government had fabricated a case against me, some of the activists are really agitated. I was told if the threat continued, the PM may cancel his trip. I diligently informed the CM about this,” Natesan said, adding this wasn’t meant to slight anyone.