Former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan skipped the inaugural ceremony of the 35th National Games, apparently sore at the failure of the organisers to extend a 'proper invitation' to him.
The nonagenarian politician, also Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, was conspicuous by his absence at the ceremony attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Sarbananda Sonowal and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Shashi Tharoor, MP.
When contacted, sources close to Achuthanandan said the organisers did not extend a personal invitation to the opposition leader.
Regretting Achuthanandan's absence at the function, a spokesperson for Sports Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan said it was due to the CPI(M) leader's engagements in the last several days that the minister could not call on him.
However, a proper invitation was sent to his office.
