Faced with public outrage over E. Sreedharan, architect of Kochi metro, not being accommodated on the stage at its inaugural function on Saturday, the PMO has decided to provide seating to him, KMRL Managing Director Elias George, and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on the dais. With this, the number of dignitaries who will be on the stage has gone up to 10.
Local MLA P.T. Thomas will have no place on the stage when Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissions Kerala’s first mass rapid transport system at 11 a.m. at the international stadium, Kaloor.
The PMO informed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office on Thursday that both Mr. Sreedharan and Mr. Chennithala had been included on the list of dignitaries who would be seated on the stage along with the Prime Minister.
Taking note of the public outcry over the omission of Mr. Sreedharan, Mr. Vijayan asked Chief Secretary Nalini Netto to write to the PMO on Wednesday, seeking his inclusion along with that of Mr. Chennithala and Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Elias George said he was pleased at the inclusion of Mr. Sreedharan.
Till Saturday, a total of seven people were scheduled to occupy chairs on the stage.
Besides Mr. Modi, the list included Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor P. Sathasivam, K.V. Thomas, MP, Minister for Transport Thomas Chandy, and Mayor Soumini Jain.
