CM’s Christmas-New Year Feast Today; Governor Excluded, BJP Leaders Unlikely to Attend

The Chief Minister is set to host a Christmas-New Year bash today at the Mascot Hotel in the capital city at 12:30 pm, attended by invited guests. Notably, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has not received an invitation, highlighting the ongoing rift between the government and the governor.

While opposition leaders, Congress, and BJP members have been invited to the banquet, it is unlikely that any of them will attend. The invitation extends to representatives from the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) after Minister Saji Cherian withdrew controversial remarks regarding wine and cake. Last year’s feast saw approximately 570 attendees, with a total expense of Rs 9,24,160.

The recent disagreement arose when Minister Saji Cherian’s remarks in Alappuzha suggested that some bishops became excited when invited by the BJP, forgetting the Manipur issue when offered wine and cake. The KCBC demanded clarification on whether the minister’s statement reflected the government’s stance, leading to controversy. Minister Saji Cherian later retracted the comments, and the KCBC welcomed the withdrawal.