The exclusion of 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan's name initially from the list of dignitaries who would share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter would inaugurate the Kochi Metro train on Saturday had created brouhaha.

The Pinari Vijayan government of Kerala wrote to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) asking it to revise the seating plan.

Later in the day, the PMO said Sreedharan has been included in the list of dignitaries. This puts an end to the controversy over the non-inclusion of DMRC principal adviser Sreedharan.

However, sources told India Today that PMO had deliberately omitted Sreedharan's name even though he has played a pivotal role in the building of Kochi Metro.

METRO MAN IN THE LOOP

"In fact, there is a strong probability of Sreedharan being nominated as the ruling BJP-led NDA's candidate for the president's post in the July 17 election. It would be improper if he is seen sitting with PM Modi and Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on the dais just days before the name of the NDA candidate is announced. Moreover, PM Modi maintains distance with the person he has to push up," the sources said.

PMO has kept Sreedharan in the loop, they added. This is one of the reasons why the 'Metro Man' did not object to his exclusion because he was in the know of things.

According to reports, the Kerala government had submitted to PMO a list of 17 people who it wanted to share the dais with PM Narendra Modi. The list included the names of Sreedharan, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former CM Oommen Chandy, local legislator PT Thomas Chennithala and Chief Secretary Nailin Netto, among others. But the PMO approved the names of just six people. Kochi Metro Rail Corp managing director Elias George said the final list was made by PMO.

The PMO's earlier decision to omit Sreedharan's name had created a furore with the Opposition lambasting the ruling BJP.

UNPERTURBED BY THE CONTROVERSY

However, the man at the centre of the controversy is least perturbed. According to reports, he said there was "nothing unusual about the decision and that he accepted it". He said he had no complaints and that he would certainly attend the function. "No need to raise controversy over this issue. The PM's security is more important. I am not at all hurt," he told a section of the media.

The sources said BJP had initially decided to nominate finance minister Arun Jaitley as the NDA's candidate for the president's post. After Jaitley refused the offer, BJP's choice has fallen on Sreedharan, the sources said.

OTHER LEADERS FOR THE POST

The other BJP leaders whose names were in the reckoning were LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, MM Joshi and Sumitra Mahajan. But Jaitley was considered the most suitable for the post. His acceptability among most of the political parties, including the Opposition, was one of the important points which went in his favour.

However, Jaitley declined the offer. Had he agreed to the original plan, PM Modi would have got a chance to appoint someone else to steer the economy as the finance minister. Also, it would have been for the second consecutive that an incumbent finance minister would have been elevated as president. President Pranab Mukherjee is the first one in this regard.

After Jaitley refused the offer, BJP's choice has fallen on Sreedharan, the sources said.

They said the next president is likely to be from the southern part of the country - be he Sreedharan, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam or superstar Rajinikanth. The move is aimed at garnering more people support during the 2019 general elections.

ALSO READ:

PM Narendra Modi to take Kochi Metro on Saturday, Metro Man Sreedharan excluded from dais

Why BJP may surprise again with its pick for President of India's post

Presidential election 2017: How AIADMK, BJD and TRS may play kingmakers

WATCH: BJP sets up three-member panel to search for presidential election candidate