Days after approving the disbursement of Rabi season instalment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu Scheme in Telangana during the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission of India on Monday withdrew the nod citing violation of the rules.
In the two-page letter, the ECI directed the state’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that its order is immediately be conveyed to the Government of Telangana.
“… the Commission has directed that the permission granted … for disbursement of Rabi season instalment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme during currency of MCC, shall stand withdrawn immediately and there shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its forms,” the poll body said.
The ECI also said that the Rabi instalments of Rythu Bandhu assistance were disbursed by the State of Telangana during October-January in last five years and there is neither any fix dates of disbursement prescribed in the scheme, nor any special significance of disbursement in the month of November is assigned in design or performance of the scheme.
The state government wrote to the ECI that the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu assistance is proposed from November 24, during the MCC period in the ongoing election process in full compliance with the conditions mentioned in the Commission’s letter dated October 5, 2018.
The Commission on November 25 signalled no objection for disbursement of Rythu Bandhu assistance in Telangana with conditions that the state government follow the instructions contained in the Commission’s directions stated in 2018.
“Above said ‘no objection’ was granted, based on the premise that the said scheme is an on-going scheme and Rabi instalments were disbursed during October-January in the past five years,” the ECI added.
Explaining why this action is being taken, the poll body said it was informed on Sunday that T Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Heath & Family Welfare, Telangana, has made statements regarding disbursement of Rythu Bandhu Scheme by a particular time before the date of polling, which was widely reported in newspapers and local media on Sunday.
The Commission said that Rao is also a contesting candidate sponsored by the BRS party from Siddipet Assembly Constituency and also a star campaigner of the party.
“… the Finance Minister of Telangana has not only violated the provisions of MCC contained in Para VII of 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 on-going election process,” the ECI said.
In 2018, the Commission had put forth certain conditions while approving release of disbursement under the Rythu Bandhu scheme during the Assembly elections in Telangana.
The ECI had directed that no new beneficiaries should be added to the list of eligible beneficiaries and no publicity should be made in this regard.
Also, no public function should be organised for disbursement of kits/items in kind and no political functionary will be involved in the process of disbursement.
The ECI had also said that as far as possible direct electronic transfer of cash components should be made through the account of the beneficiary and there should be no distribution of cheques in this regard.
Telangana will vote on November 30 and counting of votes will be held on December 3.
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