Confusion, chaos at Smart City ceremony

KOCHI: A miscommunication from the authorities in inviting MLAs and MPs resulted in flaring up of tempers and complaints at the Smart City ground breaking ceremony on Saturday.  A furore  arose as MP K P Dhanapalan and MLA V P Sajeendran, both representatives from Kunnathunadu constituency under which the Smart City project area falls, were allegedly denied seats on the dais. The duo were alloted seats soon after. The programme went ahead as planned despite the setbacks. MLAs Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden were seen trying to manage the situation.Oommen Chandy explained that no formal function was planned out for the ceremony and he was “surprised that they have organised a function. We never expected it.” Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said as it was not a formal function, protocols need not be maintained.Nonetheless, most of the MLAs and MPs present seemed to be dissatisfied over the treatment meted out to them. Sajeendran said that the presence of an MLA or MP in a government function in their constituency could not be denied. This is an incident could have been avoided, he added. Dhanapalan said that no protocols were maintained, “These are our privileges. We should not be denied of our rights.”   Most of them told that they were not properly intimated about the function. They were asked to attend the function on Friday without further details. Benny said, “MLAs and MPs were not properly intimated about the function. Due to this there was a confusion.