Congress, BJP scramble for credit as Intercity Express gets stop at Ottapalam

V.K. Sreekandan, MP, entering loco cabin of the Intercity Express to felicitate the loco pilot as the train arrived at Ottapalam station on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The Intercity Express had barely pulled into Ottapalam Railway Station on Thursday when the welcome party turned into a contest over who deserved the credit for its new halt.The Congress arrived with drumbeats and placards. The BJP was already waiting. Both had the same train to welcome, but each wanted to make sure its role in securing the stop was seen and heard.Led by V.K. Sreekandan, MP, Congress workers marched to the station from near the bus-stand. BJP workers, led by party west district president P. Venugopalan, had reached the station earlier.As the Congress workers took up positions near the spot where the train was expected to stop, the BJP group moved ahead. When the train rolled onto platform one, the contest shifted to the locomotive cabin.Workers from both parties rushed to get inside, leading to a brief bout of pushing and shoving. BJP and Congress workers waiving their party flags to welcome Intercity Express at Ottapalam railway station on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Mr. Venugopalan made it into the cabin first. The BJP team welcomed the crew with laddus and a lotus flower. The Congress was not going to let the occasion pass without its own share of the spotlight. Mr. Sreekandan entered the cabin next, presenting the crew with a shawl and a garland.With both parties having completed their respective welcomes, the contest moved back to the platform, where slogans and speeches brought the event to a close. Heavy police security was in place throughout.Behind the political rivalry was a long-awaited development for railway passengers of Ottapalam: the Intercity Express now stops at the station. The train stopped as scheduled on Thursday. The battle over who deserved the credit continued on the platform.Mr. Sreekandan said the stop was the result of nearly 10 years of effort.For the passengers, the new stop may mean a more convenient journey. For the two parties, however, the arrival of the train offered another opportunity to make their case before the public. Published - October 15, 2026 08:49 pm IST