Congress Accuses LDF of Hidden Deal With BJP After Kerala Signs Up for PM SHRI

Kerala Congress Chief Sunny Joseph has accused the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) of a clandestine alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the state’s decision to join the Centre’s PM SHRI scheme. The announcement, made by General Education Minister V Sivankutty on October 19, 2025, has ignited a political firestorm, with Joseph alleging that the move exposes a “secret understanding” between the CPI(M) and the BJP, kept hidden from the public and even the state Cabinet.

Joseph, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, claimed that the decision to join the PM SHRI scheme—aimed at upgrading over 14,500 schools nationwide—was made unilaterally by Sivankutty without Cabinet discussion, pointing to a deeper political motive. “This is proof of the covert relationship between CPI(M) and BJP. The Marxist party’s secret dealings are now out in the open,” he declared on October 20, 2025, in Thiruvananthapuram. He further alleged that the CPI(M) has been receiving political favors from the BJP, citing the BJP’s silence on recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) notices to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s son as evidence of this quid pro quo.

The Congress leader extended an olive branch to CPI, a key LDF ally, which has publicly expressed reservations about the state’s decision to join PM SHRI. “If CPI stands firm on its stance, the opposition will support them,” Joseph said, while questioning whether CPI would maintain its opposition or backtrack as it has in the past. He also accused the CPI(M) of dominating the LDF coalition and urged other allies to clarify their positions on the issue.

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The controversy stems from Sivankutty’s announcement that Kerala would join the PM SHRI scheme to secure central funds, while emphasizing that the state would not deviate from its existing educational policy. LDF Convenor T P Ramakrishnan defended the decision, aligning it with the front’s broader strategy to maximize central funding for Kerala. “The Centre has been denying Kerala its rightful share of funds and tax allocations. Every department is taking steps to secure what the state deserves,” Ramakrishnan told reporters on October 20, 2025. However, he maintained that the LDF would continue to oppose the Centre’s approach to the scheme, calling it an administrative necessity rather than a policy shift.

The CPI, a significant LDF partner, has openly criticized the move, with Revenue Minister K Rajan noting that the decision was not discussed in the Cabinet. This internal discord has fueled speculation about cracks within the LDF coalition. Ramakrishnan sidestepped questions about CPI’s dissent, instead highlighting Kerala’s financial constraints compared to states like Tamil Nadu, which has challenged the Centre legally over similar issues. “Kerala lacks the revenue surplus that Tamil Nadu enjoys. We have no choice but to pursue central funds,” he explained.

The BJP, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to claim vindication. State BJP chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar welcomed Kerala’s decision, calling it an “admission” that the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP) and PM SHRI scheme were correct. He criticized the CPI(M)-led government for its “two years of unnecessary opposition and stubbornness” before embracing the scheme, which aims to strengthen central, state, and local body-run schools across India.

The PM SHRI controversy has intensified political tensions in Kerala, with the Congress accusing the CPI(M) of compromising its ideological stance for political and financial gains. As the debate rages, questions linger about whether the LDF’s decision reflects pragmatic governance or a deeper, undisclosed alignment with the BJP. With the CPI’s dissent and the Congress’s aggressive posturing, the issue is set to dominate Kerala’s political discourse, potentially reshaping alliances and public perceptions ahead of future elections.

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