The Kerala Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Wednesday, May 21, dismissed media reports which suggested that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had deliberately skipped the inauguration of 62 completed roads, including 12 Smart Roads, in the state.
The CMO claimed the reports were part of a “politically motivated effort” to discredit the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government amid its fourth anniversary celebrations.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 21, the CMO said that on May 16, CM Pinarayi Vijayan had cancelled three public events scheduled for the afternoon due to health concerns. These included a monsoon preparedness review meeting, the road inauguration ceremony, and a Student Police Cadets programme. The statement noted that the cancellations were reported by media outlets at the time.
However, a controversy erupted on May 21 after several television channels alleged that the Chief Minister had chosen to distance himself specifically from the road inauguration, insinuating political tensions within the ruling CPI(M) leadership. The channels claimed that the event — promoted prominently by the Public Works Department (PWD) led by Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas — had sidelined the significant contribution of the Local Self-Government Department (LSGD), headed by M.B. Rajesh, in funding the road projects.
The billboards and social media reels put out in celebration of the completed roadworks, some of which were part of a delayed Central government initiative, reportedly failed to acknowledge the LSGD’s role. This omission sparked speculation that a turf war was brewing between two prominent CPI(M) leaders — Riyas, who is also the CM’s son-in-law, and Rajesh, a former Speaker and influential voice within the party.
“This narrative — that the Chief Minister avoided only the road inauguration while attending other events — is being deliberately pushed to undermine the government’s achievements,” the CMO stated, adding that no media outlet had reached out to verify facts with either the CM or his office.