Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the State government to postpone the disbursement of Rythu Bharosa, the agricultural financial assistance scheme, until after the general elections scheduled for May 13 in Telangana.
The ECI cited a breach of the model code of conduct by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who made announcements regarding the scheme during his election campaign speeches.
In a letter addressed to the chief electoral officer of Telangana on Tuesday, the ECI highlighted the Chief Minister’s violation of the MCC by pledging in his campaign speeches that the Rythu Bharosa funds would be transferred to farmers’ accounts by May 9.
“Considering the aforementioned breach of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Revanth Reddy, president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, star campaigner, and chief minister, the Election Commission has directed that the disbursement of the remaining installment under the Rythu Bharosa scheme for the Rabi season of 2023 shall be deferred until the completion of the polls in the state of Telangana on 13.05.2024,” the letter stated.
The directive was issued within 24 hours after the state government allocated Rs 15.81 crore as a one-time relief measure to compensate 15,246 farmers across 10 districts
