THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The chief minister will host a Christmas-New Year bash in the capital city today. The function is held at the Mascot Hotel at 12:30 pm. The feast is attended by invited guests. Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has not been invited to the banquet as the rift between the government and the governor is raging.

Opposition leader, Congress and BJP leaders have been invited to the banquet, but none of them are likely to attend. KCBC representatives will be in attendance as Saji Cherian has withdrawn the controversial wine and cake remarks. Around 570 people had attended last year’s bash. The total expense was Rs 9, 24, 160.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) had stated the other day that they would not cooperate with the government on the controversial remarks of Minister Saji Cherian. The KCBC demanded to clarify whether what the minister said was the government's stand or not.

Saji Cherian's remark in Alappuzha that some bishops got excited when BJP invited them to a banquet and forgot about the Manipur issue when wine and cake was offered, has sparked a controversy. The minister retracted these remarks. The KCBC also welcomed the withdrawal of the remarks.