BJP, CPM spar over Kochi Metro inauguration date

State President Kummanam Rajasekharan says deliberate attempt to avoid PM Modi

As Kerala gets ready for the opening of its first metro rail network, in Kochi, the CPM-led Left government in the state on Friday courted controversy over its opening date and the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event.

After Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran “announced” May 30 as the date of inauguration and hinted that the Prime Minister’s presence at the inaugural ceremony was not indispensable, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan corrected the minister on the date and said the government was still awaiting word from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Kochi Metro will start functioning on May 30 and the government is waiting for a confirmation on the presence of the Prime Minister at the event. If he is not available, the Chief Minister will inaugurate the Metro,” Surendran said. The state government is learnt to have scheduled the opening of Kochi Metro as part of events marking completion of its first year in office.

The minister’s statement left the BJP fuming. “May 30 was decided to ensure that the Prime Minister is not available since he won’t be in the country on the said date,” BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters. The Prime Minister is scheduled to undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29.

By evening, the Chief Minister initiated damage control and clarified that no date had been finalised for the inauguration. “We are still in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office (on his availability). The announcement of the date is due to a misunderstanding,” Vijayan said. Earlier, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Modi was invited to the event to showcase development in the state which the Prime Minister had, during the 2016 Assembly election campaign, disparagingly equated with Somalia.

Phase 1 of the Kochi Metro is a 13.4-km stretch between Aluva and Palarivattom and covers 11 stations. On completion, the Rs 5,181-crore Metro will run 25 km, covering 22 stations, between Aluva and Petta.