Kerala's former General Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Monday, 13 July strongly defended the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's position on the PM SHRI school scheme, dismissing as factually incorrect the assertion by Ratheesh Kaliyadan — former Additional Private Secretary to ex-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — that the state cannot unilaterally exit the scheme after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The remarks have sharpened an intra-left dispute at a time when the new V.D. Satheesan cabinet is reviewing the programme.

Sivankutty's Core Rebuttal

Sivankutty categorically rejected Kaliyadan's argument that the signed MoU legally prevented Kerala from withdrawing from the PM SHRI scheme. The state, he maintained, retained every right not to implement the project. He pointed out that although the agreement had been signed, the LDF government neither proceeded with implementation nor accepted Central funds under it.

He also questioned the need for anyone to consult a former Chief Minister's Additional Private Secretary on the matter, noting that the LDF's position had been explained repeatedly — both inside and outside the Assembly — by Pinarayi Vijayan himself, now the Leader of the Opposition, as well as by Sivankutty during his own tenure as Education Minister.

What Kaliyadan Had Argued

In a published article, Kaliyadan described Kerala's signing of the MoU without prior Cabinet discussion as a procedural defect. He argued that the agreement vested the authority to terminate it with the Union Ministry of Education after a 30-day notice period, making unilateral state withdrawal legally untenable. He nonetheless suggested that the present Satheesan government could continue the LDF's political stance of non-implementation despite the MoU remaining in force.

The ₹92.41 Crore Dispute

Sivankutty also pushed back against claims that Kerala had received ₹92.41 crore under the PM SHRI scheme. He stated that the amount represented expenditure already incurred by the state between 2023–24 and 2025–26 under the Right to Education Act and could not legitimately be projected as scheme assistance from the Centre. This distinction is central to the LDF's argument that it never operationally participated in the programme.

Political Undercurrents

Sivankutty alleged that Kaliyadan's remarks would only benefit the United Democratic Front (UDF)–Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance and questioned whether the statement had been made in anticipation of securing a position under the present UDF government. He described such statements as reflecting the mindset of opportunistic officials — a sharp personal charge that signals the depth of the factional friction.

This comes amid the Satheesan cabinet's appointment of a sub-committee to examine what needs to be done about the PM SHRI programme, following the controversy over the Vijayan government's signing of the agreement.

Sivankutty's Demand for BJP Probe

Separately, Sivankutty demanded a comprehensive police investigation into alleged financial irregularities during the BJP's Assembly election campaign in Kerala. The allegations include purported embezzlement in helicopter and vehicle rentals, and alleged irregularities in a ₹3.5 crore contract for manufacturing one crore party flags. He argued that the matter involved public money and contributions from party workers, and warranted a thorough probe.

With the Satheesan cabinet's sub-committee yet to submit its findings, the PM SHRI controversy is unlikely to fade — and Sivankutty's intervention ensures the LDF will contest every claim about the scheme's legal and financial status.