The CPI has accused the CPI(M) of violating coalition etiquette and undermining collective decision-making.
Published Oct 24, 2025 | 1:50 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2025 | 3:33 PM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers during a meeting with the Chief Secretary.
Synopsis: Kerala’s ruling LDF is witnessing one of its fiercest internal flare-ups in recent times, with the CPI openly rebelling against CPI(M), over the “discreet” signing of the Union government’s PM SHRI scheme. The CPI has accused the CPI(M) of violating coalition etiquette and undermining collective decision-making.
Kerala’s ruling LDF is witnessing one of its fiercest internal flare-ups in recent times, with the CPI openly rebelling against its senior partner, the CPI(M), over the “discreet” signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementing the Union government’s PM SHRI scheme.
The CPI, caught completely off guard by the revelation that the agreement with the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy was inked on 23 October, accused the CPI(M) of breaching front discipline and keeping allies in the dark.
As tensions within LDF reach a boiling point, the political temperature is poised to rise even higher on Friday, 24 October. All eyes are now on CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam, who is set to address the media following his party’s crucial secretariat meeting.
The buzz in political circles is that Viswam may unveil the CPI’s hard-hitting stance against its senior ally, the CPI(M) — and possibly hint at a course correction that could redefine the Left alliance’s internal dynamics.
Adding to the day’s political suspense, the CPI central secretariat is also meeting in New Delhi, with General Secretary D Raja indicating that the national leadership’s official line will be announced after deliberations.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide, General Education Minister V Sivankutty has called a press conference at 4.30 pm, in what is being seen as the government’s counter-narrative amid the escalating friction between the Left allies.
The LDF, it appears, is in for a stormy day.
In a dramatic policy reversal, on 19 October, the CPI(M) — one of the fiercest critics of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — took that surprising U-turn.
After years of vehement opposition to the Union government’s Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, which mandates the implementation of NEP, the Left-ruled Kerala decided to join the initiative.
What followed was even more startling.
Within days of that decision, the state government allegedly went ahead and discreetly signed the MoU with the Union Ministry of Education, without informing or securing the consent of its key coalition partner, the CPI or discussing within the LDF and, more importantly, within the Cabinet.
It’s learnt that on 23 October, General Education Secretary Dr K Vasuki flew to New Delhi to ink the MoU on behalf of the state. She was accompanied by Dr AR Supriya, Director of Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), whose funds had earlier been frozen by the Centre due to Kerala’s refusal to join PM-SHRI.
The move has triggered unease within the ruling LDF, as CPI ministers were reportedly kept in the dark. Senior CPI leaders have alleged that the matter was neither discussed within the LDF nor formally approved by the state cabinet.
Though neither the state government nor the General Education Department has publicly confirmed the signing, senior officials indicated that the decision could unlock nearly ₹1,500 crore in central funds previously withheld by the Union government.
The discreet manner in which the MoU got signed has snowballed into a full-blown political controversy. The CPI has accused the CPI(M) of violating coalition etiquette and undermining collective decision-making.
Viswam, who had warned on 23 October that signing the PM SHRI scheme without the Front’s consent would be a “violation of front decorum,” reiterated a day later that “this is not how a front should operate.” He said further decisions on the issue would be taken after the CPI state secretariat meeting.
With opinions emerging within the party, including demands to withdraw CPI ministers from the Cabinet, the state leadership now faces the challenge of determining the party’s next move.
Meanwhile, the rift in the Left Front has widened, with CPI leaders terming the government’s move as a self-inflicted blow. CPI MP P Santosh Kumar said, “It is a situation where a goal is being scored against itself. Whoever has signed it discreetly should respond to it.”
He added that “opposing the project is the declared position of the Indian Left,” emphasising that the concerned minister owes an explanation to the public and the Front.
Adding to the criticism, the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) — the CPI’s student wing — launched a scathing attack on the state government, calling the signing of the PM SHRI scheme a “complete betrayal, anti-student, and a challenge to society at large.”
In a strongly worded statement, the AISF state executive said that while the Left has been leading nationwide protests against the Sangh Parivar’s educational agenda, Kerala’s Education Department had “taken a stance that weakens the movement from within.”
“The Education Minister should not think he can move forward by subverting the declared policy of the Left Front,” warned AISF state president Bibin Abraham and secretary A. Adhin, adding that “strong protests will erupt on the streets of Kerala against this student betrayal.”
The Union Ministry of Education welcomed the Kerala government’s decision to sign the MoU, terming it a major milestone in transforming the state’s school education landscape.
In a statement, the Ministry said Kerala’s participation in the centrally sponsored initiative would help develop select schools as centres of excellence, equipped with modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, and experiential learning spaces.
The initiative aims to integrate skill development and digital innovation in alignment with the NEP 2020.
The Ministry noted that the PM SHRI scheme envisions a model of education that is inclusive, equitable, and future-oriented, preparing students to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.
“With Kerala on board, the PM SHRI network expands further, bringing together states committed to holistic learning and innovation in education,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of RSS, welcomed Kerala’s decision to sign the PM SHRI scheme, calling it a victory for students and the outcome of ABVP’s persistent struggle.
ABVP State Secretary EE Iswara Prasad, Thiruvananthapuram District Secretary Abhinand, and state committee member Gokul met General Education Minister Sivankutty to congratulate him on the decision. The leaders also conveyed the state committee’s resolution and raised various issues related to the public education sector.
As the CPI and CPI(M) dig in their heels, Kerala’s ruling front faces a moment of reckoning. The storm over PM SHRI and its political aftershocks are rattling the very foundation of the Left’s coalition experiment.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
