KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived unexpectedly at the Nedumbassery airport to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived on a two-day visit to Kerala. There was no announcement that the Chief Minister would arrive until the last minute. It was also reported that Minister P Rajeev was entrusted with the responsibility of receiving the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Pinarayi arrived unexpectedly.

Pinarayi welcomed Modi. Modi also shook hands with the CM. Later, Modi held the Chief Minister's hands with affection. Governor Arif Muhammad Khan was there to receive him but Modi spoke more to Pinarayi. There was criticism that the Chief Ministers usually arrive to receive the Prime Minister when he visits, but non-BJP Chief Ministers often do not attend the receptions. Pinarayi corrected that too. The Chief Minister will also participate in various programs inaugurated by the Prime Minister today.
Mayor M Anil Kumar, Hibi Eden MP and TJ Vinod MLA who were included in the protocol list did not reach the Navy airport to receive the Prime Minister. The mayor has not been invited to the inauguration of the development projects of the shipyard today.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the ship repair center and the second drydock of the Kochi Shipyard at Wellington Island on 12 noon. He will also inaugurate the LPG import terminal of Indian Oil Corporation at Puthuvaippu there. Then he will go to Marine Drive by car and participate in the meeting of BJP Shakthikendra workers who are in charge of booth level elections. He will reach Nedumbassery by helicopter from Naval Airport and return to Delhi by special flight.