Despite ongoing controversy over the invitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kerala on a 2-day visit on Monday. Modi was recieved by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at airport.
On Tuesday, Modi is scheduled to unveil a statue of former state CM R Shankar at a programme organised by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) at Kollam.
There was a controversy on Monday after Chandy, in a press note, stated that he was "deeply saddened" for being kept away from the function following a request of Vellappally Natesan.
He had said that though he should have been present at the function being attended by the PM and also because Sankar was a former CM and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief, he was forced to take the decision to stay away, following the organiser's request.