PM SHRI scheme exposes cracks in Kerala's UDF after contradictory statements

The differences within the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala over the Central government's PM SHRI (Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India) scheme have come out in the open after senior leaders gave conflicting statements within a day.

UDF convener Adoor Prakash had earlier said at a press meet following a UDF State coordination committee meeting that the state government would continue with the scheme. However, Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, a senior leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), denied that the scheme was discussed at the meeting at all.

Addressing mediapersons on Friday, Mr. Kunhalikutty said reports that the Congress and the IUML expressed different opinions during discussions on PM SHRI in the UDF were incorrect. He said the Cabinet subcommittee constituted to study the scheme would submit its report, after which the government would announce a final decision.

The subcommittee would recommend how to exit an agreement signed by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, or whether there were ways to go ahead without accepting the conditions of the Union government. "Their conditions related to curriculum or school selection will not be implemented in Kerala. There should be no doubts on this. If such a situation arises, we will take a decision then," Mr. Kunhalikutty said. The IUML had earlier strongly opposed the PM SHRI scheme.

Put on the spot over Mr. Kunhalikutty's statements, Mr. Prakash did a volte-face and denied that the PM SHRI issue had been discussed in the UDF. "Only if there were a discussion would a dispute arise," he said. Denying he had said the government would go ahead with the scheme, Mr. Prakash said the UDF had taken no such decision. A final decision would be taken on the basis of the report of the subcommittee, he said.

Meanwhile, former Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty accused Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan of stating falsehoods. "The Leader of Opposition is now saying the opposite of what he said as the Leader of the Opposition," Mr. Sivankutty said, in an apparent reference to earlier remarks on the scheme.

Mr. Sivankutty pointed out that no government or aided school in Kerala had been selected for the scheme, and that the funds received were Right to Education (RTE) entitlements through the Samagra Shiksha Kerala. He listed clear reasons why the PM SHRI scheme should not be implemented. For one, only seven months remained for the scheme period to conclude. School selection and other technical processes related to sanctioning of funds would take time. This would likely leave only three months for the PM SHRI scheme, since its duration ended in March 2027.

The PM SHRI scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative to develop model schools across India. Kerala's previous LDF government had signed an agreement to participate, and the current government's Cabinet subcommittee is now reviewing the scheme. The UDF, which is the opposition alliance in the state, has been debating its stance, but the recent public disagreements among its leaders have brought internal tensions into focus.