Political ‘credit-war’ erupts over Vizhinjam port as Congress leaders skip inaugural event

Thiruvananthapuram : Rancorous political ‘credit-war’ that erupted over the ‘Who began the Vizhinjam seaport project’ question has led to a political major showdown with Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor skipping the inaugural event of officially welcoming the vessel to the port and Congress leaders skipping the event after opposition leader VD Satheeshan not invited for the event on Friday.

Politics and war-of-words on Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram has marred the significance of the event with Congress leadership stating that it was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who laid the foundation and began the initial discussions on the public-private investment sharing with Adani group while the CPI(M) stating that it was under their tenure that the implementation of the project has gained momentum.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) stated that the seaport project was the ‘baby’ of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy under whose leadership the foundation was laid and the government in power should name the port in his name.

“Everyone knew the foundation stone for the project was laid in the previous UDF regime under the leadership of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and it is extremely unfortunate that the leader of opposition was not invited for the trial run inaugural ceremony where the Chief Minister and union ministers are participating”, said senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala to the media.

Meanwhile, ports minister VN Vasavan while addressing a crowd said that the idea of the seaport project was conceptualized by EK Nayanar, the former Chief Minister and veteran communist leader.

Shashi Tharoor has decided to skip the inaugural event of welcoming the ship citing a lack of progress on the local people’s demand for compensation and rehabilitation.

In a post on the social media platform X, the Congress leader said he sincerely hopes that the pending issues and grievances of the local community will be visibly and satisfactorily addressed before the port commences the formal operations later this year.

However, sources in the Congress party say that the MP of Thiruvananthapuram has decided to skip the event as part of a collective decision of Congress leaders who have openly shown their displeasure on the government’s decision to sideline senior congress leaders from the official event of welcoming the ship to the port.

‘Kerala’s long-cherished dream a reality’ : CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala’s long-cherished dream has become a reality today,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today after the inauguration of the trial run at Vizhinjam International Seaport.

“Ports are crucial to development of any economy. This marks a significant chapter in the history of Kerala. There are only a few number of such state-of-the-art ports in the world,” the Chief Minister said.

The CM added that Phases 2 to 4 of the port will be completed by 2028 and that the port will be elevated to a higher level once its finished. This is 17 years ahead of the projected year 2045. Rs 10,000 crore investment will make this a reality. He also thanked Karan Adani, is the Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ), for his help in completing the project.