Low public turnout at Vadakara event draws CM’s ire; party workers' protest cited as reason

VADAKARA: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed dissatisfaction over the low public turnout at the inauguration ceremony related to the development of the Vadakara District Hospital.

“The usual events in Vadakara aren't like this. There's generally a good crowd. A large pavilion has been set up, and since it is summer, there is enough space for people to sit comfortably. I’m refraining from commenting on several things out of courtesy,” the Chief Minister said, indicating his disappointment.

Union Minister George Kurian, state ministers Veena George, Mohammed Riyas, and Abdurahiman were present on stage. However, MLA K.K. Rema and MP Shafi Parambil were notably absent, which also drew criticism from the Chief Minister. He noted that there seems to be a trend in Vadakara Municipality of excluding local MLAs and MPs from official events—a pattern that has sparked protests before. This time, even though their names and photos were included on posters, they did not participate.

The general public opinion is that their absence contributed to the low turnout at the event.

There is also criticism suggesting that the subdued nature of the Chief Minister’s event may be linked to ongoing discontent within the party ranks. This stems from the removal of prominent leader P.K. Divakaran from the CPI(M) district committee, which led to continued protests from party workers.