KOCHI: Following the controversy over the appearance of 'Papanji', an effigy in the Cochin Carnival, the committee have made a new face for the effigy. Last day, BJP workers claimed that Papanji looks like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After this, the face was removed. The new face will be installed today. The work on the effigy's new face was done at Ernakulam Parade Ground.

Every year, a giant 'Papanji', is burned on the Fort Kochi beach at midnight of December 31 to welcome the New Year.

Claiming the effigy's face resemble PM Modi, BJP workers under the leadership of district secretary and municipal standing committee chairperson Priya Prashanth, demanded that the construction of Papanji be stopped and the carnival committee should apologise.

But even though the construction was stopped, the officials were not ready to apologize at first. They assured to change the currently installed face which was brought down soon. The carnival committee expressed its regret following strong protests.