The Election Commission has withdrawn the permission given to the Telangana government to provide financial aid to farmers through the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. This decision was made following a violation of the model code of conduct by a state minister.
On Monday, the Election Commission revoked the Telangana government’s authorization to distribute financial assistance to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. The decision came after a state minister violated the model code by publicly announcing the disbursements.
The Election Commission had initially allowed the state government to disburse the rabi instalment during the model code of conduct period under certain conditions. One of the conditions was that the state should not publicize the disbursement during this period.
The Election Commission stated, “There shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its forms.”
The Commission noted that T Harish Rao, serving as the Minister of Finance and Health and Family Welfare in the Telangana government, has contravened the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The EC letter to the state chief electoral officer (CEO) stated that he not only violated MCC provisions but also breached specified conditions by promoting the scheme’s release. Consequently, this has disrupted the fair competition in the ongoing election process.
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The State of Telangana disbursed Rabi installments of Rythu Bandhu assistance from October to January in the last five years. The scheme does not specify fixed dates for disbursement, and there is no particular significance assigned to November. The Election Commission instructed the Chief Electoral Officer to communicate its decisions to the state government and submit a compliance report by 3 pm on Monday.
The ‘no objection’ was granted based on the understanding that the Rythu Bandhu Scheme is a continuous initiative, with Rabi installments historically distributed between October and January over the past five years. The Election Commission has now withdrawn permission, conveying this decision to the state chief electoral officer.
The state finance minister made this move following his public disclosure of information regarding the release of rabi instalment disbursements, which violated the established protocol. He was quoted as saying, “The disbursement is scheduled for Monday. Before farmers finish their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited to their accounts.”
“The Commission has instructed that the approval given in its letter dated November 25, 2023, allowing the distribution of the rabi season installment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme during the currency of MCC, is hereby revoked promptly. No disbursements under the Scheme will occur until the Model Code of Conduct in the State of Telangana is no longer in effect in any way,” the letter stated.
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