IT’S UNTHINKABLE. T h e Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Government in Kerala has left the past behind. And, it has chosen to move towards the right path! The Kerala assembly on 25 March, 2025 passed a bill moved by Higher Education Minister, R Bindu that will now allow entry to private universities in the state. According to the University Grants Commission’s 2024 data, there are 471 private universities across the country. Gujarat has the largest number of private universities (65), followed by 53 each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. While lending his support to the move, leader of the opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan has asked the government to do a thorough study before implementing it. The Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill provides for government representatives or nominees in all three key decision-making bodies of private universities – the governing, executive and academic councils. The bill also allows for establishment of ‘multi-campus’ universities. It stipulates reserving 40 per cent of the seats in each course for permanent residents of the state. The passage of the bill is significant in many ways. It does reflect a change in the Left’s position on private universities. Does it point to a shift in the Left mind-set? All along, the CPM was vocal in its opposition to opening up the higher education sector to private players. Efforts made by successive Congress governments in the past were vehemently opposed. The ground reality, however, has forced the Left to take a pragmatic stance. This is beginning of a new Kerala where the Left is doing the right!
