Kochi: Amid the growing rift between the CPM and CPI over the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in Kerala, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies GR Anil said that the differences within the LDF would not affect governance. Anil, who represents the CPI in the Cabinet, was addressing the media in Alappuzha.

" We will uphold the left front's policy. Disputes won't hit the governance. Party secretary will explain the decision in detail," he told the media in Kochi.

He stated that he would abide by his party’s directives on the PM SHRI issue. The CPI leadership is expected to take a crucial decision on the matter at its state council meeting on November 4.

The CPI ministers have already announced their decision to boycott the state Cabinet meeting scheduled for October 29 as a mark of protest against the government’s decision to sign an MoU for PM SHRI. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Education Minister V Sivankutty allegedly decided to implement the central scheme in Kerala without holding discussions within the LDF or the Cabinet — a move that triggered a political storm and deepened the rift between the two Left allies.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam had earlier written to LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan, seeking discussions on the PM SHRI issue. Addressing the media, Viswam questioned the “unusual haste” shown by the Pinarayi Vijayan government in joining a central project that, he said, seeks to bring the National Education Policy (NEP) into the state.

In a bid to pacify the CPI, the Chief Minister met the party secretary and its ministers — GR Anil, K Rajan, J Chinchurani, and P Prasad — to discuss the signing of the PM SHRI MoU. However, the talks failed to reach an agreement as the government declined to withdraw from the project.

After the meeting, Viswam told reporters, “The issue we raised has not been resolved. The talks with the Chief Minister were cordial, but no solution was found. Our concerns remain. The next steps will be decided later.”

The CPI’s main contention is that the state government signed the MoU without any discussion in the Cabinet and that the party came to know about it only through media reports.

However, state Education Minister V Sivankutty maintained that the MoU was signed to avail the Centre’s education funds and assured that there would be no changes to Kerala’s school curriculum.