Kerala CM's office dismisses reports of credit row between Ministers behind Pinarayi's absence at Smart City road inauguration
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office has denied 'media speculation' that haggling between two Ministers over claiming credit for the successful completion of 12 smart roads in Thiruvananthapuram city as part of Smart City project had prompted him to stay away from the function on May 16.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday (May 21, 2025), with several television news channels avowing that the Public Works department, headed by Minister P.A. Mohamad Riyas, had usurped the claim for the successful completion of the Central government project hugely underwritten by the Local Self-Government department, headed by M.B. Rajesh, both Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders.
The news channels alleged that the billboards and social media reels promoting the successful completion of the protracted road works failed to feature the Local Self-Government department's role despite its significant funding.
Vested interests: CMO
In a statement, the CMO termed the 'media insinuations as absurd.' It stated that some vested interests had calibrated the propaganda in a sly but vain attempt to rob the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's urban infrastructure development achievements of their sheen.
Health reasons cited
The CMO stated that Mr. Vijayan had cancelled three programmes on May 16 for health reasons.
It said the purveyors of the false propaganda had not bothered to verify its veracity with Mr. Vijayan or his office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Activists flag design flaws, safety issues of Lohara bridge
Ludhiana: Activists from the Council of Engineers and Public Action Committee have raised questions about the design of Lohara bridge under construction over the Sidhwan canal. The bridge is in alignment with the missing link-2 Part C of the Southern Bypass project in Ludhiana, costing Rs 11.94 crore, and being built under the Smart City mission. The activists argue that it will lead to further chaos and bottlenecks due to traffic snarls at the junction of the Southern Bypass. They have written to the state chief secretary in this regard. In fact, the activists also visited the site recently for an inspection. They claimed that one bridge over Sidhwan canal is being constructed in alignment with the missing link-2 Part C of the 200ft bypass coming from Gill Chowk village. Traffic coming from the 200ft bypass will cross the Southern Bypass and, using the under-construction bridge, will then divert towards the other bank of Sidhwan canal. Thereafter, the traffic going towards Doraha/Delhi will take a right turn and, using the newly constructed bridge in front of Morgan crossing, will again return to the Southern Bypass to move towards Doraha. The bridge is being constructed at about a 45° angle to Sidhwan canal. After crossing the bridge, vehicles taking a left turn will face a V-shaped bend, leading to a bottleneck. Since the width of the road on the other side of Sidhwan canal is not sufficient, heavy vehicles like trailers will have to move back and forth to take a proper turn. Similar problems will occur for heavy vehicles taking a right turn. For smooth movement of traffic, land will have to be acquired on this side, for which no steps have been taken, the activists alleged. Notably, one bridge at Buddha Dariya (at Haibowal Kalan) is lying idle as the owner of a private property has refused to give land for the development of the road in front of that bridge. Thus, it seems that there is no practical vision from the engineers of the Smart City Projects, and it would be a sheer waste of smart city funds. Instead of making provisions for this bridge over Sidhwan canal, the activists said it would have been better to construct a flyover over the Southern Bypass. An RCC slab over Sidhwan canal could have been constructed to increase the width of the Southern Bypass at this junction. The traffic coming from Doraha/Ferozepur Road would use the flyover, and traffic coming from the 200ft bypass would use the road under the flyover to move right or left.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Prathidhwani contributes to chief ministers distress relief fund for landslide rehabilitation
Thiruvananthapuram: Prathidhwani, the welfare and recreation forum of IT employees at Technopark, contributed over Rs 28 lakh to the chief minister's distress relief fund (CMDRF) for the rehabilitation of landslide-hit communities at Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad district. The relief fund was handed over to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office by state convenor of Prathidhwani Rajeev Krishnan. Prathidhwani president at Technopark Vishnu Rajendran and other office bearers Rahul Chandran, Saneesh KP and Prasanthi PS were also present. Prathidhwani's units in three IT Parks in Kerala — Technopark, Infopark, Kochi, and Cyberpark, Kozhikode — collected the contributions from around 1,156 techies. The amount is intended for building a house (Rs 20 lakh) and other facilities in the township project (Rs 8.67 lakh) for the communities devastated by the massive landslide last year.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
BJP govt conspiring against minority institutions: Akhilesh
Lashing out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that it was conspiring to dismantle all minority institutions and target both Muslims and Christian organisations. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also alleged corruption in government departments. (HT FIle) Addressing a press conference at the SP headquarters in Lucknow on Friday, Akhilesh said: 'The BJP follows the British policy of divide and rule. Madrasas are being shut down, land records are being scrutinised, and bulldozers are being used on madrasa properties. The BJP is not just targeting Muslims, but is now trying to enter Christian institutions too. Lakhs of posts are vacant across departments, including two lakh in the education department. Yet the government boasts of a trillion-dollar economy and a developed India. Does this happen in a developed country?' On the inauguration of Gorakhpur Link Expressway by chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, Akhilesh said, 'The trillion-dollar budget is not being spent on education, health and welfare for the poor, but on the highway of loot.' 'The 91-kilometre expressway has been built at a cost of more than ₹ 7,000 crore. It is not an expressway, but a four-lane highway. If you want to know the difference, pick up a book and see what the Indian Road Congress (IRC) says. Is this expressway built as per IRC standards? Will the government take action against those who flouted the norms?' asked Akhilesh. On the recent issue of alleged anomalies in transfers, Akhilesh said, 'There is a dispute as officers and ministers want to work as per their own free will. A deputy CM has complained that the officer of his department did not show him the list of transfers.' The SP chief alleged corruption in departments such as education, PWD, and urban development. 'There is a fixed rate for transfers. Despite Smart City funds from both Delhi and Lucknow, cities like Mathura, Agra and Unnao are struggling with clogged drains. The level of corruption in U.P. today is unprecedented,' he alleged. Akhilesh further alleged that the BJP was against PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and reservation. 'The rules of reservation are not being followed in recruitments. We all have to come together and protect reservation and the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. PDA is our emotional slogan and it connects people,' the SP chief said.
