Pragmatism trumps ideology

The standoff between the CPI and CPM partners in the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala over the state government's U-turn on the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme appears to have eased up, but tensions persist between the two Left parties, with the former questioning the reversal in policy and demanding its withdrawal.

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The Pinarayi Vijayan government has now decided to put implementation of the scheme in abeyance and is set to approach the Centre seeking relaxation in some conditions which it has described as unacceptable. After holding out for three years and refusing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Union Education Ministry on the PM SHRI, which envisages an infusion of funds to states for improving educational infrastructure under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Kerala government suddenly decided to join the scheme. The decision, which was taken sans the state cabinet’s approval and without consulting its allies in government, was justified as a pragmatic move to ensu