KOZHIKODE: The public works department (PWD) has landed in a row over enlisting Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Wayanad MP, as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of Agastianmuzhi-Kunnama-ngalam road on July 13, amid allegation that he was not informed about the event.
The department has put display boards with Mr Gandhi's image along with those of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Thiruvambady MLA George M. Thomas.
Going by the display boards, PWD minister G. Sudhakaran will inaugurate the programme while Mr Thomas will preside over the function. P.T.A. Rahim MLA will deliver the keynote address.
Congress leaders here say the date should have been decided in consultation with him. Moreover, M.K. Raghavan MP, who represents the nearby Kozhikode constituency, through which most of the road goes, was also in the dark about the inaugural function.
Congress leaders say the orgainsers should have contacted Mr Gandhi's office either at Mukkam or in New Delhi and ensured his participation in the ceremony. “They were well aware that Mr Gandhi will not be able to attend the programme as parliament is in session,” they said.
However, the organisers claim that they had invited Mr Gandhi for the programme. The PWD renovated the road which was in poor condition spending Rs 14-crore.
Mr Thomas said that PWD as well as himself as the legislator representing the region had invited Mr Gandhi for the function. But he refused, citing the parliament session, Mr Thomas said.
