EC stops Telangana farmer aid scheme
The Election Commission (EC) has warned the south-eastern Telangana government to desist from doling out financial aid to farmers under a state government scheme after it withdrew the earlier order citing a violation of the poll code.
Assembly elections are to be held in Telangana on November 30 and results are to be announced on December 3.
The poll body has said that the government can disburse relief only on certain conditions during the model code of conduct period and asked it to refrain from publicising it to the public.
“The Commission has observed that T Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Heath and Family Welfare, Govt of Telangana … has not only violated the provisions of MCC (model code of conduct)… but also conditions laid down as above by publicising the release under the scheme, and thereby disturbed the level playing field in the ongoing election process,” the EC letter to the state chief electoral officer (CEO) read.
The EC informed the state chief electoral officer about its decision to withdraw its permission.
The action follows the public announcement made by Rao on the release of disbursements of rabi crops.
“The disbursement will be made on Monday. Even before the farmers complete their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited into their account,” the minister had said.
The EC had said that it gave ‘no objection’, based on the premise that it is an ongoing scheme and rabi instalments were disbursed during October-January in the past five years.