Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI and CPM have reached an understanding to resolve the dispute over the state government’s signing the PM SHRI scheme, part of the National Education Policy (NEP). The Cabinet is likely to form a sub-committee—which may include CPI ministers—to temporarily freeze the agreement with the Centre and decide on further steps.

CPI leaders arrived at the AKG Centre, the CPM state committee office, for discussions. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and Minister K Rajan attended the meeting. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM general secretary MA Baby and state secretary MV Govindan were also present.

With both parties reaching a consensus, CPI ministers are expected to attend the Cabinet meeting scheduled for this evening. The CPI had earlier maintained a firm stand that it would not compromise on its demand to cancel the PM SHRI agreement. However, since the deal has already been signed, the Cabinet sub-committee will now examine the technical and legal implications of cancelling it. The government will also need to clarify whether to accept the agreement with certain conditions or revoke it entirely and proceed legally.

Education Minister V Sivankutty had earlier explained that signing the deal was part of a crucial move to secure the state’s share of central funds. But, with criticism emerging even within the CPM that the government had yielded to BJP and RSS pressure, the party has now decided to reconsider its position.