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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 (IANS) Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) allies CPI and CPI(M) will hold important meetings on Monday to bridge the growing rift over the signing of the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s School for Rising India) agreement with the Centre.
The controversy started late last week when it emerged that the Kerala government had signed the MoU to implement the PM SHRI scheme – a central initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) – without the consent of key LDF partners.
The CPI, the second largest constituent of the LDF, publicly alleged that the agreement was made without its knowledge, and accused the CPI(M) of taking the decision unilaterally.
The CPI national leadership has reportedly expressed its strong displeasure to the CPI(M) Central Committee, terming the move as a violation of alliance ethics.
In response, the CPI(M) has called an emergency meeting of its state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning to review the situation and address the discontent.
The CPI state executive is scheduled to meet during the day to chalk out its response and strategy amid mounting pressure from the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which has accused the CPI of being “humiliated” by its senior partner.
Congress state president Sunny Joseph has said that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is turning Kerala schools into laboratories to implement the Centre’s “saffronisation experiment” through participation in the PM SHRI scheme. He said the inclusion of schools under the PM SHRI project is the result of a “secret understanding” between the CPI(M) and the BJP.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who returned from his Middle East tour on Sunday night, is understood to have held preliminary discussions with CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam to stall the results.
Adding to the intrigue, the two leaders are scheduled to share a stage at a joint event in Alappuzha later in the day – a development that will be closely watched for signs of reconciliation or further discord.
As the crisis deepens, the day’s deliberations are expected to determine whether Kerala’s ruling Left party can restore internal unity or face a wider ideological divide over the education scheme linked to the NEP.
–IANS
SG/DPB