PM Modi Kochi Visit: Ministers, Congress Leaders Skip Event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kochi, Kerala on March 11, 2026 for the inauguration of several infrastructure projects. It will be complicated by the choice of the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, and many other state ministers. Multiple leaders of the Congress Party, to boycott the inauguration ceremony. Therefore, the Prime Minister’s visit will create a more political dimension to what was originally meant to be a government event.

His visit also comes at a critical time for political parties. They are all working hard to finalize their candidate lists and campaign strategies for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. Media reports state that the boycott decision illustrates an escalating conflict between the various political parties in advance of the upcoming elections.

Launching Projects and Beginning NDA Campaign

During his visit to Kerala, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate several infrastructure and development projects at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, located in Kaloor. This event is expected to have attendance from Union Ministers and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the President of the state BJP.

In addition to the inauguration of the projects, it is anticipated that the Prime Minister will continue the campaign for the National Democratic Alliance from this location. Further solidifying the political significance of the Prime Minister’s visit to Kerala.

Changes by Ministers and Congressional Leaders

Promotional material for the projects used the names of many different kinds of state leaders. It includes leaders like the Public Works Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas, the Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty, the Local Self Government Minister M. B. Rajesh. Also, members of Congress’s delegation: Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden and MLA Uma Thomas.

However, several have chosen not to attend the scheduled program. Benny Behanan said that he was leaving New Delhi for the Parliament Session. However, if he were capable of attending, he still would have chosen not to, because he did not want to give the impression as if he were supporting something that he called as a BJP political campaign.

On the other hand, Hibi Eden did say that he would attend the scheduled program. It was his decision and right as a Member of Parliament but that he disagreed with the alleged politicisation of the event.

Political Issues with the Event

In addition, Hibi Eden condemned BJP Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s attendance to the government event. He called it part of his efforts to generalize the event as being a political event instead of being an official one.

Additionally, he condemned the organizers’ decision to engage a BJP member to punctuate the Prime Minister’s speech as inappropriate for an event sponsored by a governmental organization.

Chief Secretary & Ministers Keep Their Distance

Chief Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan will most probably remain in Thiruvananthapuram. Meaning he is not expected to attend the functions there. Reports indicate that there has been no effective communication regarding the Prime Minister’s schedule while in Kochi between the organizers and the officials involved.

The other reason for the political boycott appears related to the alleged exclusion of Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas from the formal guest list. Local Self Government Minister M.B. Rajesh stated that he received the invite too late to attend. They considered the absence of a fellow cabinet member to be unacceptable.

Signs of Increased Political Rivalry Leading Up To Elections

The political boycott also serves to heighten the evidenced ongoing rivalry between the different political parties in Kerala with state Assembly elections approaching. Originally conceived as an event to help promote development; dates back to just that in the K.V.S., with a renewed degree of focus, along with extensive media coverage surrounding recent news updates on this issue.

As each of the various political parties ramp up their respective election campaign efforts in this state, this indicates that there will likely be a substantial increase in political rivalry and vigorous political discourse in the upcoming election cycles within the State of Kerala.