Kozhikode: The internal discord within Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has intensified, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the senior coalition partner, coming under sharp attack from the second-largest ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), over the state’s unilateral decision to sign the PM SHRI scheme Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The signing of the agreement to join the Central government’s PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme, reportedly done without consulting the CPI, has been widely perceived as a move by the CPI(M) to assert its dominance, leading to a public spat between the long-standing allies.
CPI Secretary’s Blistering Attack
CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam has publicly criticised the CPI(M)-led government, with the core allegation being that the party was kept “in the dark” about the crucial decision. The criticism, however, extends beyond policy.
Sources indicate a growing resentment within the CPI and other smaller LDF constituents over the perceived authoritarian style of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Having secured a historic consecutive term, the Chief Minister is alleged to be behaving like a “complete autocrat” driven by the “arrogance of a second term.” The allegation is that not only are other LDF partners neglected, but even CPI(M) ministers are treated as mere “servants.” Furthermore, a culture of sycophancy is said to prevail, where ministers are reportedly forced to praise not just the Chief Minister, but also his son-in-law, Minister Mohammed Riyas.
Quote: The general sentiment suggests CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s conduct resembles that of a ‘King of Kerala’ rather than a Chief Minister, with his son-in-law positioned as the ‘Crown Prince.’
The ‘Test Dose’ and the 2026 Warning
The controversy surrounding the PM SHRI scheme is being viewed as just a “test dose” of the CPI(M)’s disregard for its ally. The real battle, sources suggest, will be over seat-sharing ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
In the 2021 elections, the CPI contested 23 seats and secured a victory in 17. However, the CPI(M) is reportedly planning to significantly cut the CPI’s allocation for the next polls. The current move is to restrict the CPI to only the 17 winning seats, completely dropping the 6 they lost. The CPI(M) internal assessment is that the CPI lacks significant grassroots strength and wins primarily due to the CPI(M)’s strong support base. The party is said to be eyeing the seats currently contested by the CPI as the next target for consolidation, which could further intensify the internal conflict in the LDF.
