"Development Over Ego": Keralam CM Hails Poonjar MLA For Letting Predecessor Inaugurate Bridge He Funded

Kottayam, Keralam: Applauding Poonjar MLA M J Sebastian’s big-hearted move allowing the former legislator of the constituency to inaugurate a project, Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan said this is the real Keralam story.

Sharing the video of the refreshing moment, the chief minister underlined that this was the political maturity of the highest order. “Heartfelt appreciation to INC Poonjar MLA Shri M.J. Sebastian for this graceful and principled gesture. Development over ego. People over politics. We are reimagining politics. A new era for Keralam has begun,” the chief minister wrote in a social media post.

This is the real Keralam Story.

When development rises above political credit, when an MLA willingly steps aside so that the person who actually funded the project can inaugurate it – that is political maturity of the highest order.

Heartfelt appreciation to INC Poonjar MLA… https://t.co/ZvvwSdLUwz

— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) September 20, 2026

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Sabastian willingly step aside to let his predecessor, Sebastian Kulathunkal, who actually funded the project to inaugurate the bridge. During the term, Kulathunkal funded the bridge construction through his Asset Development Fund. The bridge was constructed with an allocation of Rs 80 lakh during the previous LDF administration. The work was recently completed under the current UDF tenure.

The current UDF Poonjar MLA also directed that the inauguration plaque list only “Poonjar MLA” rather than his name, attributing full credit for the initiative to Sebastian Kulathunkal, who asked him to inaugurate the bridge.

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Both leaders jointly inaugurated the bridge alongside local officials, including Panchayat President Ambili Sajeevan.