Pinarayi’s missed flight: Kerala House Protocol Officer suspended; further action likely

New Delhi: Action has been taken following the incident where Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, missed his flight from Delhi to Kerala. The Protocol Officer, Sreemukar, at Kerala House in Delhi has been suspended in this regard. It is understood that apart from the disciplinary action, further measures will be considered after receiving a response from the officer to the show-cause notice.

Vijayan was scheduled to travel on Saturday afternoon aboard the 2.50 pm Indigo flight from Delhi to Kozhikode. Having departed from Kerala House around 1.30 pm, he arrived at the airport at 2.05 pm. The Protocol Officer accompanying him duly informed the Indigo airline authorities of the VIP's arrival at the airport.

However, while the former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition was resting in the lounge, airline representatives failed to escort him even after the boarding gate closure time had passed. Upon contacting them, he was informed that boarding was no longer possible as the time had lapsed.

Typically, VIP travel is coordinated by the Protocol Department. The preliminary assessment indicates that the protocol team failed to communicate effectively with the airline, resulting in Vijayan being denied his VIP clearance and privileges.