Centre shuns 2 ministers for Kerala bypass opening

KOCHI: The cold war between Let Democratic Front (LDF) government and the Union government in connection with the inaugural ceremony of Alappuzha bypass got another twist on Sunday with the Centre’s decision to remove the names of Ministers Thomas Isaac and Thilothaman, Members of Parliament AM Ariff and KC Venugopal from the list of invitees for the function scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The names of the ministers and the MPS were struck off from the list sent by the office of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.

However, the central government included the name of Union Minister of State for External

Affairs V Muraleedharan, who hails from Kerala, in the drat list.

In its response, the state government has writen a leter to the Union minister’s office seeking a correction on the mater.

The bypass was completed about two months back. The inaugural ceremony was awaiting the date of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had evinced interest in opening the road.

The project has been implemented at a cost of Rs344 crore with equal shares borne by the central and state governments.

The state government had also spent an additional Rs25 crore for developing Kalarcode and Kommady Junctions, installing street lights and additional works.

The inaugural ceremony is organised by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The state can only suggest names to be included in the invitee list.

The state government wants to include the name of Thomas Isaac and P Thilothaman in the list along with AM Ariff, who represents Alappuzha constituency in the parliament. The state government also wanted to include the name of KC Venugopal, MP, who has contributed to the construction of the bypass. Removing the name of the elected MP of the constituency is a violation of protocol.

Minister for Civil Supplies P Thilothaman has strongly reacted against this move.

Ariff termed the decision as unjust. He said that he received an invitation leter from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. However, his name was removed from the drat instruction forwarded by the PWD ministry.

“A complaint will be filed with the speaker and the prime minister in this regard. The state government should show the courage to challenge this undemocratic action,” he stated.

Alappuzha bypass road will be opened to traffic on Jan.28, ending a wait of almost five decades. It will be inaugurated jointly by Gadkari and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 1pm.