THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 25, 2025 — The Kerala government has executed a significant policy U-turn by agreeing to implement the Central Government’s controversial PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, a decision that has reportedly left Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin deeply disappointed.
Kerala, alongside Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, was one of the few states that had staunchly opposed the PM-SHRI scheme, primarily over its links to the Central government’s National Education Policy (NEP). The three states had maintained a united front, but Kerala’s recent reversal is viewed as an “unconditional surrender” to the BJP-led central government.
The disappointment is particularly acute for Stalin, who often refers to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as his ‘brother’ in the political sphere. The Tamil Nadu CM is reportedly “khinnan” (deeply saddened) that his political ally caved to the Central Government’s pressure, effectively breaking the solidarity of the opposing regional parties.
In sharp contrast, Tamil Nadu, facing a similar non-release of a reported ₹2,152 crore in SSA funds, chose a path of legal resistance. The Stalin administration successfully pursued a legal battle, securing its share of the Samagra Shiksha funds through the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court. Furthermore, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the third leader who resisted the scheme, is reportedly “not surprised” by Kerala’s capitulation, suggesting a cynical view of the political move.
