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The Kerala government’s decision to join the PM-SHRI scheme to access substantial Central grants for school education has roiled ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition politics.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has taken strong exception to the move, which it has deemed as an implicit acceptance of the “RSS’ majoritarian nationalism-inspired“ National Education Policy (NEP).
The CPI has strongly signalled that the CPI(M) had not taken LDF allies onboard or consulted the Cabinet before “surreptitiously” enrolling in the scheme.
The CPI noted that the BJP had insisted, in an allegedly anti-constitutional manner, that States accept the PM-SHRI scheme for the release of obligatory Central grants for education. It felt the government had no reason to bow to the Centre’s pressure on the core issue, given that “federalism and secular education were at stake.”
CPI State secretariat convenes
CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam told reporters on the sidelines of an “emergency” State secretariat meeting at the party’s State headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram that “a course correction was imperative.”
“This is not the way in which a Left coalition comprising communist parties works. We will have to find some recourse”, he said.
Civil Supplies Minister and CPI leader G.R. Anil said the State General Education department had “contravened” the Left’s national line on PM-SHRI and NEP.
“Such a drastic reversal of political line concerning the BJP’s attempt to centralise school education by negating linguistic, ethnic, cultural and religious diversities that inform the polity warranted serious discussions in the LDF and the cabinet. The LDF allies and the Cabinet are blindsided by the out-of-the-blue turnabout”, he added.
Sivankutty owes explanation: Minister
Mr. Anil said General Education Minister V. Sivankutty owed the LDF and the government an explanation. “He should state what the last-minute exigency in signing a politically loaded central scheme that infringes on federalism and seeks to centralise and communalise education was,” he said.
Mr. Anil pointed out that President Droupadi Murmu had lauded the State’s “stellar achievements” in the education sector.
“Kerala has invested ₹5,000 crore for education. Pre-primary education in Kerala matches the standards of developed economies. The State has achieved all this without PM-SHRI funds and despite the Centre’s vehement bid to strangulate the State’s finances to stymie the LDF’s social welfare and development agenda and destroy the Kerala model”, he said.
Mr. Anil said a fund crunch was “no excuse” for signing on to PM-SHRI. “The Civil Supplies department operates despite a severe fund crunch. The Centre owes Kerala ₹2,000 crore for paddy procurement. Nevertheless, the LDF government compensates the farmers without much delay, notwithstanding the financial difficulties”, he added.
UDF sees political opportunity
Meanwhile, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) appeared to sense a political opportunity in the internal dispute enveloping the LDF, a coalition that has long projected steadfast unity.
UDF convener Adoor Prakash said the Opposition would “welcome the CPI with open arms” if it chooses to part ways with the CPI(M).
“The CPI should note that statesman C. Achutha Menon was UDF’s (former) Chief Minister. The UDF and the CPI have had a productive alignment in the past”, he said.
Mr. Prakash claimed that the UDF was “in secret discussions” with other “disenchanted” LDF allies.
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