First LDF meet after PM Shri row today, confusion in signing agreement and polls to be discussed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first LDF meet after temporarily resolving the issue arising from the PM Shri controversy, will be held today. The meeting will be held at the AKG Center at 4 pm. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will explain matters including the formation of a cabinet sub-committee in the meeting. RJD and CPI leadership meetings will also be held today to question the unilateral signing of the agreement.

The protests in the CPI were resolved when the cabinet meeting decided to withdraw from PM Shri. The CPI had previously expressed the general feeling that before signing the PM Shri agreement, the front was not taken into confidence.

Concerns about losing central funds are also likely to be raised in the meeting. The leadership will explain the confusion in signing the agreement in the CPM state secretariat and state committee meetings. The party allies also assess that the dispute with the CPI did not benefit the election which is approaching. There is also active discussion that the approach taken by the party general secretary, bypassing the state leadership, paved the way for a solution to the problem in PM Shri. There will also be discussions related to the party's preparations as the local body elections are about to be announced.

Meantime, the chief secretary is likely to inform the Center today about the cabinet’s decision to freeze the PM Shri scheme. Although the draft of the letter has been prepared, it is indicated that the chief minister has not seen the file. The chief secretary will hand over the letter to the union ministry of education after obtaining the chief minister's approval. However, the Center has informed that Kerala should not withdraw from PM Shri. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also informed that the agreement should be adhered to.