Minister’s ‘exclusion’ from PM’s event: LDF holds parallel inauguration of NH-66 Ramanattukara-Vengalam stretch in Kerala’s Kozhikode

A parallel inauguration of the Ramanattukara-Vengalam access of national highway 66 was held in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, by leaders of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in protest against the alleged exclusion of State Public Works Department (PWD) Minister PA Mohamed Riyas from the official inauguration ceremony inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi.

The protest event, which started with a roadshow near Ramanattukara, was led by Mr. Riyas and local party workers, who shouted slogans against the Union government, criticizing the “exclusion” of the Minister from official duties. LDF leaders and elected local body representatives were among the protesters who also accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of planning “deliberate exclusion”.

Mr. Riyas said, “Exclusion is an insult to the State. This (a form of exclusion) will never support a democratic system. The people of our State are very aware of our contributions to the implementation of the project.”

He added that apart from “just funding approvals”, there was also a lot of human intervention that supported the rapid execution of the infrastructure project.

‘No departure from protocol’

LDF leaders who attended the roadshow criticized the Union government, terming its exclusion from State-cooperated infrastructure projects as a “deviation from established protocol”. They stated that the project would not have become a reality if the state government had not cooperated on land acquisition procedures and related development needs.

Protesters argued that the State representative’s absence from the ceremony “undermines the cooperative federal spirit” and that the Kerala government’s contributions were ignored. They also alleged that the rehabilitation of those who lost their land for highway construction could not be completed successfully without the cooperation of the State government.

Protocol followed: BJP

Meanwhile, BJP leaders clarified that all official protocols in connection with the State-level inaugural event were followed as such. They said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was invited to the event to represent the State.

They claimed that “the invitation was sent a few days in advance and there was no protest at the time the invitation was accepted.”

The 28-km Ramanattukara-Vengalam reach is part of the ongoing NH-66 widening in Kerala, one of the state’s largest road infrastructure initiatives. The corridor forms an important section connecting Kozhikode city to the northern part of the state and neighboring Kannur district. The upgrade aims to improve traffic flow and road safety and reduce travel time along the busy coastal highway.