Thiruvananthapuram – A political crisis is brewing in Kerala following revelations that a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s central committee allegedly acted as an intermediary in the signing of the controversial PM Shri scheme agreement. The disclosure, made by India’s Minister of Education, has thrown the ruling party into turmoil.

During the signing of the PM Shri scheme, the minister publicly thanked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Member of Parliament John Brittas. Brittas, who has consistently voiced opposition to the central government’s education policies, including the National Education Policy, seemingly facilitated a deal that enabled the implementation of the scheme in Kerala.

The CPM had continued to publicly oppose the PM Shri scheme and the National Education Policy even after Kerala secretly signed the agreement. The revelation that Brittas, a member of the party’s central committee, played a role in the agreement raises questions about the party’s internal consistency and motivations.

The agreement followed a meeting between Chief Minister Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on October 10. A draft of the agreement was prepared within a week and signed in Delhi on October 23. The allegations strengthen claims by the United Democratic Front (UDF) of a secret alliance between the CPM and the Bharatiya Janata Party, a claim that could gain traction during the upcoming elections.

Intermediary Identified: KC

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal stated that Central Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clearly identified a CPM MP as the intermediary in the PM Shri deal. He called on the CPM and CPI to clarify their positions. “We have been pointing out the deals between the Kerala government and the BJP for some time, including the private lunch at Nirmala Sitharaman’s residence and the meeting with Amit Shah. We said then that there was collusion in the PM Shri scheme and the labor codes,” Venugopal said.

Brittas Was Not an Intermediary: Minister Anil

Minister G.R. Anil denied that John Brittas acted as an intermediary, attributing the claim to the BJP minister. He also stated that the PM Shri agreement is a closed chapter.

English Summary:

John Brittas Acted as an Intermediary Between Center and Kerala in PM Shri: The PM Shri agreement controversy is escalating in Kerala politics. Allegations of secret deals between the CPM and BJP, facilitated by John Brittas, are creating political turmoil. The controversy is expected to intensify, potentially impacting the upcoming elections.