General Education Minister V. Sivankutty
| Photo Credit: C. SURESHKUMAR
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Tuesday said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) would secure a third consecutive term in Kerala, claiming there is “no anti-incumbency” against the government and predicting “a victory in 110 seats.”
Addressing the media in Kannur, Mr. Sivankuttty alleged that the Congress was “spending crores of rupees on professional public relations campaign”, with agencies allegedly directing leaders daily activities. He said such interventions had led to political missteps. According to him, “experienced voters would not alter their views based on PR strategies.”
The Minister claimed that even agencies engaged by the Congress had reportedly found no anti-government mood among the public. He said people were experiencing the “effectiveness” of the government’s work and that the ruling fronts’ sitting MLAs “enjoyed significant public goodwill.”
He alleged an understanding between the Congress and the BJP in certain constituencies, including Nemom, and criticised the Congress for raising the Sabarimala issue. He said that the LDF would not seek votes in the name of Sabarimala and described the Opposition as being “in confusion.”
On governance, Mr. Sivankutty said the government had “gone beyond its manifesto promises”, including allocating ₹20 crore for online delivery workers and initiating a step towards legislation to ensure minimum wages and other protections. He maintained that nothing promised in the manifesto had been left unimplemented.
Drawing a distinction between party and government positions, he said the CPI(M)’s stance may differ from that of the LDF government on certain matters, particularly one cooperation with the Centre is required. Not every government decision, he said, could be equated with a party decision.
He also referred to remarks by Congress leader Mani Shankar Iyer stating that the veteran leader had “acknowledged” the prevailing political situation and suggested that the Pinarayi Vijayan government should return to power.
He criticised AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal for his “style of campaigning” and said the Congress remained uncertain about its strategy.
The Minister expressed confidence that the LDF would secure a decisive mandate and form the government again.
Mr. Sivankutty said books authored by students will be published by the Education department and distributed to school libraries across the State.
He said the initiative aims to encourage creativity and academic engagement among students. The books will be published only after scrutiny by a specially constituted committee to ensure quality and relevance, he added.
The Minister also said the government was considering awarding grace marks to students who excel in agriculture and adopting scientific and sustainable farming practices. The proposal, he added, was part of broader efforts to promote practical learning and skill development in schools.
He stated that such measures reflected the governments’ “commitment to strengthening public education and nursing diverse talents among students.”
Published – February 17, 2026 03:27 pm IST
