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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29 (IANS) The rift within Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the controversial PM SHRI scheme has ended, with the dominant CPI-M accepting CPI’s tough stance and agreeing to adopt the compromise route suggested by its junior ally.
After days of tension that threatened to break down the front, the state government is now preparing to send a letter to the Center hinting at a halt to the plan and a possible withdrawal.
Communist Party of India General Secretary D. Raja told the media in Delhi that the matter of PM Shri has been resolved for the time being.
“All four ministers from our party will join the cabinet later today. After the meeting, CM (Pinarai) Vijayan will tell people about the decision. We oppose the idea of NEP (National Education Policy) and we cannot agree to go ahead with it. The state government will also convey the issue to the Centre,” he said.
Under the agreement, a joint committee of leftists will be formed to study the PM SHRI project in detail and then a final decision will be taken.
The move is part of CPI-M’s strategy to pacify the CPI, which had opposed the Centre’s education scheme citing its links with the NEP.
In the government’s letter to be sent soon, it will be requested that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed under the scheme be kept in abeyance.
A copy of the letter will also be handed over to CPI.
However, the final decision depends on the central government.
A meeting of the Left Democratic Front will be called soon to approve this step.
The CPI-M’s reconsideration is significant as it comes amid persistent objections from the CPI and warnings of political consequences if the government goes ahead with the agreement. The latter has warned that its ministers will not attend Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, CPI-M general secretary MA Baby held consultations with his CPI counterpart Raja after discussions with state leaders.
Sources said national leaders from both sides have also stepped in, indicating hope for a positive outcome.
It is understood that if the government officially announces its political decision through the proposed letter, the CPI will soften its stance.
Top CPI-M leaders first met at the AKG Center and decided to send a communication to the Centre.
This marks the resolution of one of the most serious internal crises faced by the LDF in recent years.
The CPI’s radical position is reminiscent of the 2017 cabinet boycott over the Thomas Chandy issue, which had rocked the alliance.
By agreeing to the CPI’s demand to suspend the PM Sree Accord, the CPI-M leadership has effectively defused the confrontation and ensured the participation of all four CPI ministers in this evening’s cabinet meeting.
–IANS
SG/VD