Consensus move to save face; possibility of monitoring committee in PM Shri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI, which is firm in its stand that the government should withdraw from the PM Shri scheme, is likely to take a persuasive stand in the party state executive meeting that will meet today.

The front leadership is making efforts to reach a consensus that will save face of both parties. The CPI state executive meeting will be held at the Alappuzha district committee office at 10 am today. The Chief Minister will also be in Alappuzha from 10 am. CPI Secretary Binoy Viswam will also be on stage when the Chief Minister inaugurates the Punnapra Vayalar annual general meeting in Vayalar at 5 pm. Both sides are thinking of ending the issue before that.

The Education Minister says that the scheme will be implemented, but the state will decide the curriculum. It is indicated that the response given by Union School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar yesterday was used as an aid. He revealed that signing the MoU does not mean that the syllabus of the National Education Policy should be implemented exactly as it is. He also pointed out that the state has the right to decide how the curriculum and textbooks should be. If the CPI is ready to take this into confidence, the proposal to appoint a monitoring committee to implement the project will become a compromise formula. However, the letter sent by CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam to the LDF convener, requesting withdrawal from the project, has not been responded to.

Election pressure

1. Both parties have to reach a consensus due to the approaching local body and assembly elections. Leaving the front would be suicidal for the CPI.
2. Minister V Sivankutty reiterates that Kerala will not move forward with the terms and conditions of the project despite signing it. It has also been proposed that the project be discussed in the next LDF meeting.