A political rift has erupted in the LDF government after the Kerala Education Department signed an agreement with the Centre to join the PM SHRI schools scheme, ignoring CPI’s objections.

In protest, CPI ministers will boycott the upcoming Cabinet meeting on October 29. The party’s State Council will convene on November 4 to decide further action.

CPI leaders criticized the Education Department for signing the MoU unilaterally despite assurances from CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby that the issue would be discussed within the front. The party accused the government of violating coalition norms and said the decision undermines Left unity.

Kerala joined the PM SHRI scheme after repeated opposition from CPI, following which the Centre promised to release ₹1,500 crore in pending SSK funds

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the ‘Montha’ cyclone, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify by Tuesday morning. The system is currently moving northwest at a speed of 15 km/h and may turn into a severe cyclonic storm within the next 12 hours.

Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected as the cyclone nears landfall. Districts such as Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh are likely to receive very heavy rainfall on Monday.

In Odisha, a red alert has been issued for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. Schools and Anganwadis will remain closed till October 30, and tourists have been barred from beaches. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till October 29, as wind speeds may reach 90–100 km/h.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will come into effect in Kerala from midnight tonight, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The SIR will be implemented across all states going to polls next year. The Election Commission rejected Kerala’s request to start the process only after local body elections.

As part of the revision, the current voter list will be frozen. Data collection will take place from November 4 to December 4, and the draft electoral roll will be published on December 9. The final list is scheduled to be released on February 7, 2026.

Kerala is included in the second phase of the nationwide SIR. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit every household three times during the verification process. Each polling station will have a maximum of 1,200 voters, and all members of a family will be included in the same booth. Voters may provide Aadhaar and other documents for verification.

Along with Kerala, states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will also implement the SIR process from midnight. The Commission said the intensive revision conducted earlier in Bihar was a major success. Assam has been excluded from this phase due to the ongoing NRC process there.

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning across Kerala for the coming days. An orange alert has been declared for Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts on October 27, 2025, indicating the likelihood of very heavy rainfall in isolated places. According to the IMD, very heavy rainfall means precipitation between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm within 24 hours.A yellow alert has been announced for Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts on the same day, warning of heavy rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm within 24 hours. On October 26, yellow alerts are in place for Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. On October 28, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts are also expected to receive heavy rain, with yellow alerts issued accordingly.The IMD has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in various parts of the state. The five-day rainfall forecast suggests widespread rainfall activity, with isolated areas likely to experience very heavy downpours. Authorities have urged residents, especially in hilly and coastal regions, to remain cautious and avoid venturing into waterlogged or landslide-prone areas.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced that the Public Education Department will provide houses to 50 deserving gold medalists from the State School Sports Meet.

The Minister said he personally reviewed the living conditions of some athletes, including record holders, who come from economically challenged backgrounds.

The CPM District Committee has offered to build a house for Devapriya from Idukki, while Kerala Scouts and Guides will construct one for Devananda from Kozhikode.

The Minister also added that the Sports Manual will be revised to resolve issues faced by students at the school level.