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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 (IANS) The political storm over Kerala’s decision to join the Centre’s PM Sree (Prime Ministers School for Rising India) scheme intensified on Friday, with Congress leaders openly accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of making a “deal” with the BJP.
AICC general secretary and MP KC Venugopal alleged that the signing was part of a secret understanding between the CPI-M and the BJP.
“CM Pinarayi Vijayan has sacrificed Left ideology for vested interests. Even CPI’s objections were ignored. This is not a policy decision but a political compromise,” he said.
Venugopal said that the CPI-M has been continuously associating with the Sangh Parivar, and “the BJP-CPI-M relationship is getting stronger by the day.”
He also accused the Chief Minister of ignoring the alliance principles.
Venugopal commented, “When even a partner like the CPI is kept in the dark, what moral authority is left? The ABVP congratulating the Education Minister shows who is actually happy with the decision.”
Opposition leader VD Satheesan also expressed similar sentiments, saying that CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam’s sharp criticism had exposed the “huge rift” within the ruling front.
Satheesan said, “Viswam’s statement was more harsh than that of the opposition. It clearly shows the eagerness of the CPI-M government to please the BJP and Kerala: PM-SHRI’s signature has thrown the ruling Left into a dilemma as the Congress has alleged a compromise between the CPI-M, the BJP family.”
He questioned whether the decision was taken “in Kerala or at Nitin Gadkari’s residence or when he met PM Modi”.
CPI ministers had reportedly opposed the move in the cabinet, but their objections were ignored. “Neither the CPI nor its ministers matter now. For the CPI(M), the BJP has become a more important partner than the CPI,” Satheesan alleged.
Questioning the government’s ideological shift, he said, “If the CPI-M has now accepted the National Education Policy (NEP), which was once said to be a product of the RSS, then it should say it openly. Has the CPI-M central leadership approved this change? Even senior Left leaders like MA Baby are being sidelined.”
Both Venugopal and Satheesan said the episode marks a turning point in Kerala politics – revealing, as they say, the growing “political convergence” between the CPI-M and the BJP and deep fissures within the LDF.
Now that CPI is openly criticizing elder brother CPI-M, Monday is going to be an important day as CPI has said that they will take their final decision in their high level party meeting to be held in Alappuzha.
–IANS
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