Kummanam Rajasekharan. File photoKochi: BJP Kerala unit president Kummanam Rajasekharan had lost the 2016 assembly polls from Vattiyoorkavu constituency by 7,622 votes. However, he is an MLA, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
Kummanam attended a function, inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday, in the capacity of an MLA, TV reports said. The BJP leader was described as a legislator in the list of dignitaries who were selected to share the stage with the prime minister during the inauguration of the Reading Day celebrations at St Teresa's College, Ernakulam. The list was undersigned by an under secretary of the PMO and handed over to the chief secretary.
Rajya Sabha chairman P.J. Kurien, Kerala governor justice (retd) P. Sathasivam and Suresh Gopi, MP, had also attended the event which was organized by the PN Panicker Foundation.
Read: Prime minister keenly followed by trollers on Kochi Metro
Earlier in the day, Kummanam had come under attack from political rivals and social media trolls following his ride with Modi in the Kochi Metro.
Reacting to criticisms, the BJP state chief had said he was invited to the program by the prime minister's office. He downplayed the controversy, saying there was nothing wrong in the state chief of the party ruling the country sharing seat with the prime minister on such an occasion.
Kummanam was hand-picked as a dignitary for the metro's inaugural ride even as elected people's representatives were kept at bay.
