Prime Minister’s Office excludes first BJP mayor on airport protocol list 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The authorities said the office of the Prime Minister excluded Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V V Rajesh from the list of people receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrives in the capital city. It is usual for the mayor to receive him at the airport when the Prime Minister arrives in Thiruvananthapuram. The list of those who will receive Modi was already submitted to the Prime Minister's Office. The mayor's name was included in this. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has also been excluded from the list. It is hinted that the mayor and the MP were excluded from the reception programme as they were attending an event attended by the Prime Minister.

Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and 22 other people including top military and police officials are on the final list of those receiving Modi. NDA and BJP leaders are also among them.

Mayor V V Rajesh has informed that he will not be able to attend the reception due to security reasons. The mayor's office also clarified that the reception ceremony was skipped because he will be attending both the events attended by the Prime Minister.

This is the first time in history that the BJP is ruling the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The activists had given a lot of publicity that the BJP mayor will receive the Prime Minister when he arrives in Thiruvananthapuram. The exclusion of the mayor from the reception has left the activists a little disappointed. Modi, who is visiting the capital today, will inaugurate five trains.