After days of standoff with its junior ally CPI, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala finally blinked Wednesday with the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government deciding to suspend its MoU with the BJP-led Centre for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. The Vijayan Cabinet also constituted a seven-member Cabinet sub-committee to review the MoU.
The development came after the CPI, the LDF’s second-largest ally, took a firm stand against the proposed rollout of PM SHRI in the state. After the signing of the MoU last Thursday, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam called it a “violation of the decorum of coalition politics”, saying that “the issue has never been discussed in the Cabinet, and the allies have been kept in the dark”.
Over the last three years, the CPI(M) had been opposing the PM SHRI scheme, arguing that it was part of the Narendra Modi government’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which the party saw as a tool for pushing “saffronisation of education” in the country. The scheme is meant to upgrade thousands of existing schools into model institutions.
The Centre has withheld the release of over Rs 1,400 crore to Kerala’s general education department, putting pressure on the cash-strapped Vijayan government. On the eve of Kerala’s PM SHRI MoU with the Centre, CPI(M) leader and general education minister V Sivankutty flagged that the state was in dire need of funds to pay teacher salaries and meet student grants.
The CPI however stood up to its senior ally, drawing a red line over the PM SHRI issue. CPI general secretary D Raja urged the CPI(M) to freeze the MoU, stating that his party could not support the NEP, which he called a “reactionary and dangerous policy of the BJP”.
Raja met his CPI(M) counterpart M A Baby to demand that the state should withdraw from the PM SHRI scheme. Baby told the media last Sunday that “This is not a matter to be decided between the CPI(M) and CPI general secretaries. It has to be decided in Kerala. Let it be discussed in Kerala whether the stand (on PM SHRI) needs correction or not.”
The CPI however kept the pressure on the CPI(M), seizing on the PM SHRI row to assert its standing in the ruling alliance, which finally led to the Vijayan government’s retreat.
This marked a first in the two-term Vjayan regime that the CPI forced the CM to climb down over a major decision. The CPI leadership has been seen to have increasingly lost its voice within the LDF over the last nine-and-a-half years. On many policy matters, the party appeared to be a mute spectator along with other junior LDF allies.
Last year, when CPI(M) MLA and actor M Mukesh faced a criminal case for alleged sexual misconduct, the CPI’s demand for his resignation was turned down by the CPI(M).
Also, following the rows over the meeting of then additional director general of police (ADGP), law and order, M R Ajith Kumar, considered close to Vijayan, with the RSS leaders in May 2023 and the 2024 Thrissur Pooram festival fiasco, the CPI sought action against the senior IPS officer, but in vain.
What seem to have proved decisive in forcing the CPI(M)’s hand on the PM SHRI issue are the local body elections, slated for December, as well as the Assembly elections due in April 2026.
The CPI(M) could not afford to protract the impasse over PM SHRI on the eve of these crucial polls, especially over allegations that it was “succumbing to the Sangh Parivar’s pressure and compromising with its fight against saffronisation of education”, which could have upset its secular vote bank.
Emerging from a meeting with the CPI(M) leaders after their decision to put the PM SHRI move on hold, Binoy Viswam told reporters: “This is the success of the Left politics and ideology.”
On his part, keeping an eye on the upcoming elections, Vijayan announced several welfare schemes cleared by his Cabinet for various sections, including an increase in the welfare pension, a “safety” monthly aid of Rs 1,000 for women from weaker sections, and a hike in rubber support price.
These measures are clearly aimed at setting the stage for projecting Vjayan as the LDF’s face in the Assembly polls. In social media, the Left camp has already started a “thudarum (will continue)” campaign for Vijayan’s third term.
A day after the Vijayan government froze PM SHRI’s implementation, CPI national secretariat member Prakash Babu, in a piece in the party mouthpiece Janayugam, stated: “Baby camped in Kerala and tried to find a solution for the issue after consulting the CPI general secretary and the state secretaries of both parties in Kerala. The Chief Minister took the lead in discussions. The Left leadership could give a message to the people that the coalition will go ahead upholding Left politics.”