In an unusual gesture of political courtesy, Congress MLA Sebastian MJ stepped aside during the inauguration of a bridge in Kerala’s Kottayam district and invited his predecessor, Sebastian Kulathunkal, to formally open the project.

The bridge in Poonjar was sanctioned during Kulathunkal’s tenure as MLA, with Rs 80 lakh allocated from his MLA asset fund for its construction. Kulathunkal, a Kerala Congress (M) leader who was part of the LDF alliance, was defeated by Sebastian MJ in the recent Assembly election.

Former MLA Gets Credit For Project

At the inauguration function on Friday, the two leaders jointly cut the ribbon. In another unusual departure from convention, the name of the sitting MLA, Sebastian MJ, was not engraved on the foundation stone.

A local body representative said Sebastian MJ had suggested during preparations for the event that Kulathunkal should inaugurate the bridge. Following the suggestion, the former MLA was invited to the function.

Addressing the gathering, Sebastian MJ said the bridge fulfilled a long-standing demand of residents and marked his first public function in the area since taking office.

“However, as a public function, the full credit and responsibility for this goes to the former MLA. Because if he hadn’t allocated such a fund, an inauguration like this wouldn’t be happening,” he said.

“Since the complete credit for this belongs to him, I would like to say that in word and spirit, it is he who has inaugurated it,” the Congress legislator said.

‘That Is What Politics Is About’

Sebastian MJ said he had himself suggested inviting Kulathunkal to inaugurate the bridge. He added that the panchayat president, block panchayat president or others who held office when the project was sanctioned could also have been invited to jointly inaugurate it.

“That is not something that disrespects or insults me. That is pure misconception; such a notion has never crossed my mind. If he provided a fund, we must respect him. That is what politics is about – politics is the development of society,” Sebastian MJ said.

The Poonjar MLA added that the former legislator had fulfilled his responsibility by allocating funds for the project, and that it was now his turn to continue the work.

“He did his duty well. After that, I must do my duty gracefully,” Sebastian MJ said.

Leaders Share Stage After Election Contest

Kulathunkal had represented Poonjar before being defeated by Sebastian MJ in the recent Assembly election. The bridge project was sanctioned during his tenure and funded through his MLA asset fund.

Sebastian MJ also said that people would eventually know the truth about development projects, irrespective of how they were carried out.

The joint appearance of the two politicians at the inauguration marked an unusual moment of cooperation following their electoral contest, with the sitting MLA publicly acknowledging his predecessor’s role in getting the bridge project sanctioned.

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