'There was opposition about PM SHRI': CPM state secretary openly admits about government's shortcomings for first time

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has openly admitted the allegations raised by the CPI against the LDF and the government regarding the PM SHRI project. M.V. Govindan told the media after the party secretariat meeting that signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme was a "lapse" because it was done without proper discussion in the state Cabinet or within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).

This is the first time since Pinarayi became the Chief Minister that the CPM state secretary has openly spoken about the government's shortcomings. Govindan's revelation confirms the opposition's allegations that the government kept not only the constituent parties but also the party in the dark on the PM SHRI issue. Failure of the party leadership, tasked with correcting the government, and the dominance of its ally, the CPI, created a bad reputation. The Chief Minister was not ready in the last press conference to admit that the CPI's arguments were correct. His only response was that there is an answer for everything but he was not saying anything now. The only thing that was shown was the displeasure at having created the crisis.

Meanwhile, Govindan rejected the stances of the CPI's student and youth wing, AISF and AIYF, which showed black flags and protested against Minister V Sivankutty and insulted him as a 'Sanghi minister'. All the statements that seem wrong to the general public are wrong, M.V. Govindan said, adding that the Left Front had said that it would discuss and take a decision regarding the PM SHRI project and move forward.

Some other questions

• Hasn't a letter been sent to the central government to temporarily suspend further steps related to the MoU?

M.V. Govindan: Isn't that a decision of the cabinet? Ask them.

• Wasn't there a discussion in the CPM before signing?

M.V. Govindan: We are discussing it, aren't we? The Chief Minister, the All India leader and I all intervened in the matter.

• It is heard that the party did not discuss it with the state secretary before signing it?

M.V. Govindan: I won't answer that at the moment.