Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala assembly speaker P. Sreeramakrishanan has tendered unconditional apology to governor P. Sathasivam for not inviting him for the 60th year celebrations of state formation day (Kerala Piravi) held at the assembly complex here on November 1.
Sreeramakrishan, in a letter to Sathasivam, tendered unconditional apology 'for causing inconvenience' and also clarified that 'there was no deliberate intention to avoid or ignore' him.
It was pointed out in the letter that it was due to certain technical issues that governor could not be invited, sources at the speaker's office said.
"Government seeks the co-operation of the governor for all its future programs and also for the functioning of legislature," the letter said.
Sreeramakrishnan also said that he came to know of the governor's displeasure through media reports.
The CPM-led LDF government had come under attack for not inviting the governor and also three former chief ministers for the function.
Besides Governor, CPM veteran V.S. Achuthanandan and two former Congress chief ministers - A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy - kept away from the function to mark the year-long diamond jubilee celebrations.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who inaugurated the celebrations, had said that the governor was not invited due to 'protocol' issues.
In his opening remark at the function, he had said the government had not 'forgotten' the Governor as stated in some quarters.
Giving reasons for omitting the Governor, Pinarayi Vijayan said, "If the governor was invited, only a limited number of people could have been accommodated on stage. But as you can see now, there are more than 60 persons from various fields who are on stage."
Year-long programs have been lined up as part of the celebrations and a function 'more attractive' would be held later, in which the governor would be invited, he had said.
(With agency inputs)