Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched a sharp criticism against Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, alleging that he was attempting to operate as a “parallel administrative authority” by convening meetings with government officials.

The remarks came after the Governor reportedly called meetings of various departments ahead of International Yoga Day. Vijayan said the move was contrary to established democratic practice and constitutional conventions.

“This is a very serious issue. The Governor is moving towards becoming a parallel administrative authority, which cannot be accepted,” he said, while also questioning what he described as the silence of the new government.

He added that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had a responsibility to protect the authority and dignity of the state government and should make his position clear on the matter.

Vijayan also recalled that in 2024, when the then Governor had sought reports from the Chief Secretary and the State Police Chief, the previous government had opposed the move.

PM-SHRI row intensifies between LDF and UDF

Opposition questions UDF’s change in stance on education scheme

The former Chief Minister also targeted the UDF government over its decision to proceed with the Centre’s PM-SHRI education scheme, accusing the Congress and IUML of previously creating controversy over the issue.

He alleged that those who had strongly opposed the scheme before the elections were now “yielding” to the Centre’s policy positions.

Vijayan argued that the claim that the scheme was being implemented because of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the earlier LDF government was incorrect.

He said several Congress-ruled states had also shown willingness to implement the PM-SHRI scheme without objection, adding that the Congress’s national position aligned with implementing the National Education Policy in full.

MoU history and fund restrictions cited

LDF says agreement was temporary and later frozen

Explaining the background, Vijayan said the earlier LDF government had been compelled to sign a Memorandum of Understanding after Kerala’s Samagra Shiksha funds were reportedly withheld by the Centre, creating pressure on the education sector.

He said the decision was taken to address a financial crisis, but the agreement was later kept in abeyance within a month.

According to him, the government at the time had also indicated that objections raised on the scheme would be examined, and a letter was sent to the Centre on 12 November 2025.

He maintained that signing an MoU did not automatically mean implementation of the scheme, and said the state government retained the legal right to withdraw from it.

He also said that during the LDF tenure, neither monitoring committees at state and district level were formed nor were details of schools to be included in the scheme submitted to the Centre.

Questions raised over implementation claims and funding

Opposition disputes government’s interpretation of central allocations

Vijayan questioned why the current government was moving ahead with the scheme when it was legally possible to withdraw from it.

He also asked whether any legal advice had been received suggesting that the state could not opt out, and said the new Advocate General, if consulted, should clarify the position.

Responding to claims that Kerala had received funds under the PM-SHRI scheme, he said such assertions were incorrect.

He argued that the Centre had clarified in Parliament that no funds had been released specifically for PM-SHRI to Kerala. According to him, the state had only received Samagra Shiksha funds, which are allocated under the Right to Education framework for purposes such as uniforms and textbooks.

Vijayan further alleged that the Chief Minister was presenting misleading claims on the issue.

Health system concerns flagged alongside political criticism

Shortage of doctors and medicines highlighted

Separately, Vijayan raised concerns over the public health system, alleging shortages of medicines and staff at a time when cases of communicable diseases were on the rise.

He said nearly 400 doctors who had cleared the Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment process were still awaiting appointment.