Political Undercurrent Mark Vizhinjam Port oigration by PM Modi

In the image released by the PMO on May 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and others on the newly authorized Vizhinjam International Coast in Thiruvananthapuram. |Photo source: PMO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's formal commission of Vizi County International Seaport on Friday (May 2, 2025) appears to be related to national and provincial politics.

Dedicated to the country's facilities, Mr. Modi seemed to have tilted excavations of the national leaders of the Congress, observing two prominent Indian group leaders – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and MP's Shashi Tharoor, with whom he shared the high-profile phase.

“This may make some quarters uncomfortable,” Modi quipped, and the Prime Minister also joked that the translator missed the political focus.

Mr. Modi also sarcastically captured the political score score of state fisheries minister VN VASAVAN. Mr Vasawan said the Kerala government “established a partner” in Port Adani to make Vizhinjam a reality.

Mr. Modi said he saw some novelty in the Communist government that a private sector entity is a reliable partner in flagship infrastructure development projects. He noted: “Private government partnerships are crucial to the development of the country.”

Mr. Modi seemed to have taken advantage of this moment indirectly eliminating Congress’ criticism of the central government’s approval of the Adani Group.

Mr. Modi began speaking, saying that he had “lucky to set foot on the land of Padmanahan”, referring to the landmark Sree Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in Tirouvananthapuram.

He noted that the country was considered an eighth-century Hindu holy site Adi Sankara Jayanthi, believed to be born in Karadi, Kerala.

Salute to the Pope

Mr. Modi pays tribute to the late Pope Francis, mainly a place of Latin Catholicism. He remembered St Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, who Christians believed to have arrived in Kerala in 52 BC.

Mr. Modi showed that the centre was “locked to the state” on welfare and development issues by saying “Jai Bharath and Jai Keralam”.

Meanwhile, Mr Vijayan tried to make a political point by highlighting 60% of the project cost in Kerala. He noted that the center is limited to (relatively small and reimbursable) survival gap funds.

Mr. Vijayan appears to be using the national stage to fight the BHARATIYA JANATA party (BJP), and Congress asserted that the left Democratic government (LDF) government is wrongly praising the central plan. He also highlighted that LDF overcomes the challenges that make Vizhinjam a reality.

Mr Vasavan described Mr Vijayan as the “power” behind the port of Vizhinjam.

Embarrassing moments

The event was also an awkward moment.

Tourism Minister Pa Mohamed Riyas said that the presence of BJP Governor Rajeev Chandrasekhar on the stage was “undemocratic” at the request of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr Rias accused Mr Chandraskar of allegedly turning state functions into a “BJP political incident” and accused political misconduct.

Mr Rias asked reporters to turn the TV cameras toward Mr Chandrasekhar on the stage of leading position where the function began, occasionally lifting his fists to support the loud efforts of the BJP workers.

Rias told reporters: “When the BJP state president lifted his hand up to politics with his fellow party members, Kerala would not forgive him because he was out of place, absurd political theater aims to grab the important national and international importance of the port commissioned.”