THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala is facing growing uncertainty and mistrust over the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme, following a contradictory report from the Union Government regarding the state’s decision to withdraw.
Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty, after meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, had stated that he verbally conveyed the state’s decision to suspend the PM SHRI scheme. However, this claim was immediately clouded when Mr. Pradhan took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to confirm the meeting, but only described the discussions as “productive.”
Crucially, the Union Minister’s post made no mention of Kerala’s request for withdrawal or suspension. Instead, Pradhan wrote that he held “productive discussions” with Minister Sivankutty “regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and PM SHRI, and fund releases under Samagra Shiksha.”
This statement has put the Communist Party of India (CPI), the junior partner in the LDF, in a difficult position, with allegations suggesting the senior partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)—CPM, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan—has effectively ‘blind-sided’ the CPI on the issue.
The ambiguity is further compounded as the Kerala Government and the CPM have consistently opposed the National Education Policy (NEP), yet the Union Minister insisted he discussed its implementation “productively.” The opposition has questioned how a discussion on suspending the PM SHRI scheme could possibly be deemed productive by the Centre.
While the State Cabinet officially decided to withdraw from the PM SHRI scheme last Wednesday, following a high-level political decision between the CPM and CPI, the delay in formally sending a letter of withdrawal to the Centre has fueled the CPI’s dissatisfaction.
Opposition parties are demanding to know why the state cannot simply send a one-line letter of withdrawal if the decision is final. Sources indicate that with the local body elections on the horizon, the CPI is likely to contain its frustration internally. There is a palpable fear within the party that an open conflict with the Centre on this issue, especially one seen as confusing and poorly managed by the state government, could severely jeopardize the electoral prospects of CPI candidates in the upcoming polls.
