PM-SHRI enrolment creates rift within ruling LDF in Kerala

A severe rift has emerged within Kerala’s ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) after the state General Education Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to join the union government’s PM SHRI scheme.

The MoU was signed on Thursday in New Delhi by Kerala’s general education secretary J Vasuki and the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

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The Communist Party of India (CPI), the second largest constituent in the LDF, has taken strong exception to the action. The CPI has called the signing of the MoU as an implicit acceptance of the “RSS’ majoritarian nationalism-inspired“ National Education Policy (NEP).

Within the CPI, there is growing pressure to take decisive action – even considering boycotting upcoming cabinet meetings in protest.

The CPI leaders said that the MoU was signed without consultation, breaching coalition etiquette and disregarding the assurance given by CPM General Secretary MA. Baby that the issue would be discussed within the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The CPI views this unilateral move as a serious violation of coalition ethics and is preparing for a political showdown.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said that the signing of the MoU was a violation of coalition etiquette and that they did not expect this from the LDF. He pointed out that the RSS and the BJP were the first to support the signing of the MoU to implement the PM SHRI scheme in the schools in Kerala.

Speaking to the media after the CPI state secretariat meeting here on Friday, he said the party will decide the future course of action in the matter in the the state executive meeting to be held on October 27.

At the secretariat meeting held on Friday, it is learnt that the CPI ministers have expressed their willingness to resign from the Cabinet in protest against the unilateral decision to sign the MoU.

CPI MP Santosh Kumar said the signing of the MoU is similar to the goalkeeper scoring a self goal.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (M), a constituent in the LDF, has come out in support of the signing of the MoU.

Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K Mani said there was no need for apprehension over the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in the state, as the government would have a role in overseeing the project.

Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had bowed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pressure, which he stated was inextricably tied to the “anti-federal, communally divisive and patently centrist” National Education Policy (NEP).

It may be noted that the MoU was signed despite stiff objections from the CPI, the second largest constituent in the ruling LDF. The CPI ministers had raised objections against the state government joining in the PM SHRI scheme in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. However, both Chief Minister Vijayan and general education minister Sivankutty didn’t respond to it stating that the matter was not in the agenda of the meeting.

Although the CPM and the education department had decided to join the scheme earlier, the government was forced to withdraw twice due to strong objections from the CPI.