Prime Minister Narendra Modi paused to have a word with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and gave him a patronising pat on his left arm as he was leaving the stage erected near Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL's) Kochi Refinery after dedicating five major infrastructure works worth over Rs 6,100 crore to the nation on Sunday.
But during his short speech, unlike when he inaugurated the Kochi-Mangaluru gas pipeline last month, the prime minister did not have a word of appreciation for the LDF government's role in the realisation of these projects.
On January 5, during the gas pipeline inauguration, Modi had said that the pipeline was proof that no goal was unachievable if everyone works together by prioritising development. Then, along with Pinarayi Vijayan, Karanatka's BJP chief Minister Y S Yediyurappa was also present.
Atmanirbhar narrative
This time, at the Kochi Refinery function, the prime minister presented the new projects as the Centre's gift to Kerala. It was his 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) agenda he was promoting.
Speaking about the Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Project of BPCL, dedicated to the nation today, the Prime Minister said that this project alone would help strengthen the country's path to 'Atmanirbhar' (self reliance). He said it could save foreign exchange reserves of over Rs 4,000 crore annually.
Here are the other projects. Two ro-ro (ferry) services along the Willingdon Island-Bolgatty corridor that could cut down the distance of travel from 30 km to just 3.5 kilometres. Sagarika, India's first cruise terminal at Kochi port that would enhance the capacity of the port. Vigyana Sagar, a marine engineering training institute. Finally, the foundation stone was laid for the reconstruction of the south coal berth at Kochi, which when completed could bring down logistical costs and improve cargo capacity.
A 'high-five' moment Modi ignored
With the declaration of the Assembly elections just days away, observers say the prime minister was clearly not in the mood to add more gloss to Pinarayi Vijayan's pro-development image.
On the other hand, Vijayan, who spoke before the prime minister, wanted to give the impression that politics did not come in the way of development.
He presented the newly dedicated projects as the fruits of a grand Centre-state collaboration.
“All these are projects in which both the state and Centre are working together, setting a true example of cooperative federalism. Time and again we are showing how a marked difference can be made in the lives of people by working together,” Vijayan said.
If this was Vijayan's way of showing up his hands for a celebratory 'high five', Modi ignored it. The prime minister did not speak anything about Centre-State cooperation. He spoke of the infrastructure boost his government was providing the country, as though state governments were insignificant players.
Nonetheless, minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who spoke first, did acknowledge the support of the LDF government in realising these projects.
Pinarayi's subtle objection
If Modi did not want to be seen as giving even a quarter of an inch to a CPM chief minister, Vijayan also did not shy away from making his differences of opinion known. He subtly hinted at his disappointment with the Centre's privatisation policy.
“In the last four and a half years, we have been trying to boost industrial growth in Kerala. This was not realised by private investment alone but also by strengthening public sector units and modernising the traditional sectors," he said. The chief minister was indirectly referring to his government's stiff objection to the Centre's plans to privatise BPCL and other PSUs like Hindustan Newsprint Limited.
Since this was said in Malayalam, the prime minister clearly would not have taken notice. However, the chief minister had written to the prime minister earlier against the Centre's plan to privatise BPCL, the largest oil marketing and oil refinery, which includes the Kochi Refinery Limited and how its privatisation move could impact the future of the petrochemical park the state government plans with KIIFB aid.
Internet politics
However, on the day, the prime minister looked keen, even if indirectly, to diminish Pinarayi Vijayan's achievements. For instance on February 15, the chief minister will inaugurate the first phase of his government's prestigious K-FON (Kerala Fibre Optic Network) project, which the LDF government claims would eventually provide free internet connectivity to the poor.
As if reminding Kerala that he had better plans, the prime minister spoke of the Rs 110-lakh-crore National Infrastructure Pipeline. And then he said: “Today, India is embarking on an ambitious programme of broadband connectivity to every village.” The plan, unveiled in December 2020, is to have high-speed internet connectivity in all villages in the country.
