Kerala Cong MLA Lets Predecessor Inaugurate Bridge

metro india news  I Kottayam : In an unusual gesture that has drawn widespread praise, Congress MLA Sebastian M.J. from the Poonjar constituency stepped aside on Friday, September 18, 2026, and invited his predecessor, Sebastian Kulathunkal, to formally inaugurate a newly completed bridge. The sitting legislator explicitly credited the former MLA for allocating the funds, stating the project was “not my fund.”The Erumely-Amakunnu (also referred to as Amakkunnu) bridge spans the Valiyathodu stream and connects neighbourhoods including Vazhakkala and Amakkunnu in the Poonjar area of Kottayam district.

The structure, approximately 15.5 metres long, was built after the catastrophic 2018 floods severely damaged the previous crossing, rendering repairs unfeasible. Construction was sanctioned during Kulathunkal’s tenure as MLA (2021–2026), with Rs 80 lakh drawn from his MLA Asset Development Fund. 

Work was completed under the subsequent administration after the recent Kerala Assembly elections. Kulathunkal, a Kerala Congress (M) leader aligned with the Left Democratic Front (LDF), lost the seat to Sebastian M.J. of the Congress (United Democratic Front). Rather than claim sole credit for the public function—his first in the area as the new MLA—Sebastian M.J. insisted the former representative perform the inauguration. The two leaders jointly cut a ceremonial ribbon. In a further departure from convention, Sebastian M.J.’s name was omitted from the foundation stone or commemorative plaque, which simply referenced the Poonjar MLA.

Addressing the gathering, Sebastian M.J. said the bridge fulfilled a long-standing demand of local residents. “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 stated. “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.” He added that politics is about the development of society and that people would eventually recognise the truth of such projects regardless of who performed the ceremonial role. 

A local body representative confirmed that the sitting MLA had suggested during event preparations that Kulathunkal should inaugurate the project.The bridge is expected to ease connectivity and benefit more than 300 families in the region. Video footage of the ceremony, showing the joint ribbon-cutting and Sebastian M.J.’s remarks, circulated widely on social media, including a post highlighting the “Not my fund” approach as an example of putting people first.Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan later praised the gesture on Sunday, calling it the “real Keralam Story.” He described it as an instance of development rising above political credit and political maturity of the highest order, noting that an MLA willingly stepped aside so the person who funded the project could inaugurate it. 

“Development over ego. People over politics,” the Chief Minister wrote, sharing related video of the event.The episode has been described across reports as a rare show of cross-party courtesy in Indian politics, where inaugurations are often tightly controlled for personal or partisan credit. By publicly acknowledging the predecessor’s role and declining to engrave his own name on the plaque, Sebastian M.J. set an example that observers say prioritises continuity of public works over individual glory. Residents and commentators have welcomed the gesture as a model that could encourage more constructive approaches to development across party lines.