Sreedharan to share dais with Prime Minister during Kochi Metro inauguration

Sreedharan was earlier excluded from the list of persons sharing stage The decision sparked a controversy in the state Chief Minister wrote to PMO to revise the list and include Sreedharan and Chennithala as guests

E Sreedharan will be on the dais during Kochi Metro Rail inauguration, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has confirmed. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala too will share the stage along with Prime Minister and other dignitaries, the PMO has informed Chief Minister's Office.

The decision came after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested PM's Office to revise the list and include them as guests on the dais along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter was sent through Chief Secretary Nalini Netto and demanded to increase the number of guests from seven to ten. 

The Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) had given a list of seven persons including Sreedharan, Chennithala and P T Thomas MLA, who represents the constituency. However, PM's office informed that Governor P Sathasivam, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, transport minister Thomas Chandy, K V Thomas MP and Kochi mayor Soumini Jain were the only dignitaries allowed on stage along with the PM. 

The news that Sreedharan and Chennithala were avoided from the list sparked a controversy and Chief Minister wrote to PMO. 

However, Sreedharan had replied that he was .