Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy makes his way through the huge crowd of Congress workers who took a ride in the Metro as part of the ‘Metro Janakeeya Yatra’ organised by the party on Tuesday. The leader was unable to get into the first train as enthus
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy makes his way through the huge crowd of Congress workers who took a ride in the Metro as part of the ‘Metro Janakeeya Yatra’ organised by the party on Tuesday. The leader was unable to get into the first train as enthus

Rush hour push: Chandy’s day ‘out’ in Kochi Metro

The Kochi Metro waits for none! Not even for former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who played a pivotal role in making the urban rail network a reality.

KOCHI: The Kochi Metro waits for none! Not even for former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who played a pivotal role in making the urban rail network a reality. The ‘Janakeeya Yathra’ organised by the UDF on Tuesday provided for moments of fun and embarrassment alike at the Aluva station. Chandy missed the intended train and was forced to wait for an extra eight minutes to board the metro.

The scene unfolded thus: Chandy, accompanied by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president M M Hassan, reached Aluva station in the evening. Hundreds of party workers were present on the premises to express their support to the leaders. MLAs Hibi Eden and Anwar Sadath were there too, with the entire group purchasing tickets from the counter.

The workers were seen revolving around Chandy to take selfies. Meanwhile, the train arrived and there ensued an ‘enthusiastic’ rush to get in, making it impossible for Chandy to enter the coach.
Without realising Chandy hadn’t boarded, Chennithala and P C Vishnunath MLA managed to get in. Soon, the train left without Chandy. Along with Hassan and Hibi, the senior Congress leader had to wait for the next train to reach Palarivattom and join the other leaders.

The ‘Janakeeya Yathra’ was organised apparently as a protest against the injustice shown towards Chandy during whose tenure nearly 70 per cent of the civil works of Kochi Metro were completed. He was not given an opportunity to travel in Kochi Metro either before its commissioning or on the inaugural day. Ironically, Chandy ended up being ‘sidelined’ again, this time inadvertently by his own party workers!

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