With the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, located in Thiruvananthapuram, on May 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his characteristic style, made the first political point of the day—taking a snide dig at the opposition INDIA bloc that has been gaining strength. PM Modi’s address to the gathering had a sharp undertone when he stated, “I want to tell the Chief Minister (Pinarayi Vijayan), you are a strong pillar of the INDI alliance; Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today’s event will give sleepless nights to many.”
The Vizhinjam Seaport Inauguration: A Strategic Milestone
Incredibly, APSEZ now has India’s first deep-water container transshipment port—the Vizhinjam International Seaport, which was developed at a cost of ₹8,867 crore. It is aimed at increasing India’s share in international trade while reducing reliance on foreign ports for commercial activities. The inauguration saw participation from major political leaders, key highlights being the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, indicative of the cross-party support and attention this project has been able to generate.
PM Modi’s Political Jibe: Clarifying What “Sleepless Nights” Mean
PM Modi’s ‘sleepless nights’ comment towards the opposition’s presence was a strategy to highlight the perceived disunity in the INDIA bloc. The inclusion of CM Vijayan and MP Tharoor showed that Modi tried to push attendance for opposition parties. ‘Today’s event will give sleepless nights to many’ is a cross-party cooperation that will definitely irritate some political parties.
Political Context and Shashi Tharoor’s Participation
Famous for his free thought within the party, Shashi Tharoor is a known name for the Congress party. His participation for the inauguration and him trying to receive PM Modi at the airport was surprising considering the time constraints. His tweet read, ‘Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, I was able to touch down in Thiruvananthapuram in time to welcome Prime Minister Modi to my constituency.’ This gesture undoubtedly started some criticism and support regarding his stance in the Congress party and the other alliance opposition.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s Participation: A Balancing Act
His attendance at the event corresponds with his schedule regarding the development projects for the state. Even as an important member of the opposition INDIA coalition, his participation along with PM Modi was interpreted as sensible politics. The Prime Minister’s statement about him being “one of the strongest pillars of the INDI alliance” was rather generous, serving almost like a critique highlighting the sprawling political entwines in India.
Aspects of the INDIA Bloc: Discordance of Harmony?
A conglomerate of diverging parties in opposition to the ruling BJP, the INDIA bloc strives to project a sense of coherence and togetherness. The presence of key Modi opposition faces, like in the case of the Vizhinjam inauguration, sitting beside the PM and sharing the stage goes against this spirit of unity. Such scenarios start to seem like fractures in the alliance, which in turn serve to weaken its stance some months prior to elections.
Media Attention and Public Response: An Uncertain Balance
The media seemed captivated by Prime Minister Modi’s statement about ‘sleepless nights’ and devoted a lot of attention to dissecting it in various ways. Some interpretations thought it was a brilliant political maneuver, while others considered it an overt attack for no good reason. Reactions from the public were also mixed. Supporters lauded his quip while critics argued if such comments were relevant for a development program.
Conclusion: Stepping Back Looks to be Politically Safer.
For India’s maritime ambitions, the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport stood out as truly significant. However, it became overshadowed by political drama that revealed the complexity of Indian political life. Modi’s comments, though carefully crafted, were intended to draw attention to the difficulties that the opposition INDIA bloc faces in the attempt to keep the coalition paradoxically focused and unified. As these sorts of events arise, Indian politics seems to need sharper tools for communication and fostering alliances.
