In a significant move, the Election Commission (EC) has withdrawn the authorization granted to the Telangana government for the disbursement of financial assistance to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. The decision, announced in an official statement on Monday, comes in response to a state minister’s violation of the model code by publicly disclosing the disbursement details.
Earlier, the poll panel had given approval to the state government to proceed with the rabi instalment distribution during the model code of conduct period, subject to certain conditions. One of these conditions explicitly stated that the state should refrain from publicizing the disbursements during the election code period.
The EC, in its statement, declared, “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 expressed dissatisfaction with T Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Telangana, for not only violating the provisions of the model code of conduct but also disregarding the specified conditions by publicizing the release under the scheme. The EC’s letter to the state chief electoral officer (CEO) highlighted the minister’s actions as disruptive to the level playing field in the ongoing election process.
