CPI's Defiance Over PM SHRI Marks Rare Check On Vijayan's Dominance In Kerala's Left Politics

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 16:09 IST

The CPIM’s backtracking is seen as a setback for the Kerala chief minister who is known as a tough taskmaster who almost always gets his way

The CPIM had expected that when CM Pinarayi Vijayan intervenes, the issue will be resolved, but the CPI was in no mood to relent. (PTI)

However, all seems to be well in the alliance now as it has been decided that a Cabinet sub-committee will be formed to study the issue and till they take a decision, the government will freeze the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme and communicate the same to the Centre. The CPIM has informed the CPI about the decision which the latter accepted.

Since the news of the education department signing the MoU had come out last week, the CPI had taken a tough stand that the state government should either freeze or withdraw from the project and inform the Centre about it too.

Even after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan met CPI state secretary Binoy Vishwam last Monday for almost an hour, the stalemate continued.

However, Wednesday’s backtracking is seen as a setback for Vijayan who is known as a tough taskmaster who almost always gets his way. The CPIM had expected that when the chief minister intervenes, the issue will be resolved, but the CPI was in no mood to relent.

CPIM general secretary MA Baby had accepted that not discussing the issue with LDF allies before signing the MoU was wrong and should not have happened. He had also communicated this to CPI national secretary D Raja. Trying to find a solution, Baby discussed the issue within his own party and also with the CPI. He held a meeting with D Raja and Vishwam to try and find a solution before the cabinet meeting.

The differences, however, escalated further when CPI decided that their four ministers—revenue minister K Rajan, agriculture minister P Prasad, animal husbandry minister J Chinchu Rani, and food and civil supplies minister GR Anil—will abstain from the cabinet if the CPIM doesn’t change its mind.

A series of meetings on Wednesday morning ahead of the crucial cabinet meeting, including those involving Vijayan, Baby, LDF convenor TP Ramakrishnan, and the CPIM state secretary, were held at AKG Centre. The CPI also held its own meeting after which a solution was found.

The implementation of the Education Policy (NEP) was why the CPI had opposed the PM SHRI project. The CPIM too was initially opposed to it, with the Left Front and their student organisations telling people about the disadvantages of NEP and how the implementation of the syllabus will affect young students. They had alleged that the aim of NEP was saffronisation of the education sector. Kerala education minister C Sivankutty had himself said earlier that the state will not implement PM SHRI but the sudden U-turn had taken everyone by surprise.

The CPI felt insulted with the way in which the MoU was signed. Vishwam alleged that the principles of coalition politics were not followed and his party was kept in the dark about the government’s decision to sign the MoU.

In a press conference last week, Vishwam said the step was taken with “unusual haste, without any discussion in Cabinet and with coalition partners, and no policy debates", questioning: “Where is the collective responsibility?"

In the last cabinet meeting, CPI ministers had raised the issue but did not get a response from either the chief minister or their cabinet colleagues. This was seen as an insult by the CPI.

Not just CPI ministers, many CPIM ministers too were unaware of the state government signing the MoU. The issue was brought for discussion before the cabinet on December 4, 2024, and April 9, 2025, but kept aside for “policy decisions". Later, without any discussions, the MoU was signed.

Unfortunately for the LDF, the crisis—now resolved—came at a time when Kerala is gearing up for local body elections.

The CPI’s pushback is also not new. In 2017, CPI ministers had boycotted a cabinet meeting when NCP minister Thomas Chandy, who was facing a land encroachment charge, was in the cabinet with them. The CPI demanded his resignation and Chandy was forced to put in his papers.

For Vishwam, the PM SHRI issue was also a litmus test. There has been strong criticism against him from his own party that he has been too soft and seems to be toeing the CPIM’s line. In such a scenario, getting the CPIM to backtrack is beneficial for him as well as the CPI. The CPI will also claim moral victory, saying it stuck to the ideological stand—unlike its allies.

News politics CPI's Defiance Over PM SHRI Marks Rare Check On Vijayan's Dominance In Kerala's Left Politics

Read More