Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday withdrew its permission to the Telangana state government to deposit financial assistance under the Rythu Bandhu scheme into farmers’ accounts, after it found that BRS star campaigner and finance minister T. Harish Rao had flouted the condition to not publicise the release of money “and thereby disturb the level playing field.”
The ECI decision stirred the hornets’ nest with the BRS and the Congress holding each other responsible for stoppage of the aid while the BJP played it safe by reiterating its stand to not oppose the implementation of an ongoing scheme.
The BRS urged the ECI to revoke the order by treating Harish Rao’s statement as an “expression of gratitude” to the commission, while Pradesh Congress Committee chief A. Revanth Reddy reassured farmers that the Congress would form government and deposit Rs 15,000 per acre in January.
Revanth Reddy went a step ahead and gave a call to farmers to chase away Harish Rao who he said was responsible for the ECI’s reversal of its earlier go-ahead for the disbursal of the amount.
The BRS launched a massive campaign with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and ministers K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao and scores of leaders accusing the Congress of stalling the funds distribution. They all quoted a representation made by Telangana Congress vice-president G. Niranjan to the ECI as proof to nail their political rival.
However, the petition made by Niranjan to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Sunday did not seek withdrawal of permission but only requested the ECI to “put restrictions on the BRS to not mention the Rythu Bandhu disbursement to farmers in their political campaigning.”
The BRS leaders also took to social media, forwarding a letter purportedly written by the PCC chief to the ECI seeking stoppage of Rythu Bandhu. Revanth Reddy, however, tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) that the BRS had created a 'fake letter' and was indulging in false propaganda against the Congress, fearing defeat in the elections.
He requested the ECI and Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj to initiate action against the fake letter.
Disbursal of the Rythu Bandhu assistance was caught in controversy every since the BRS government decided to advance its release for rabi season to November, in contrast to previous years when the amount was released between December and February.
Sensing that the ruling party might do a repeat of 2018 when it deposited the amount on polling day, and made electoral gains, Congress leaders including Revanth Reddy and former TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had met ECI officials in Delhi and urged them to direct the government to disburse funds before the commencement of filing of nominations in the first week of November to prevent what they called misuse of the scheme to fetch votes.
The EC did not respond to the Congress request but gave the go-ahead for disbursement on November 24 knowing that it cannot take place for the subsequent three days due to bank holidays. The EC also put a condition that amount should be disbursed on November 28, just two days before polling.
“They could have waited till December 1 but the go-ahead was part of the BJP and BRS tacit understanding,” Revenath Reddy had then alleged.
Soon after the ECI clearance, Harish Rao followed by Chandrashekar Rao and Rama Rao repeatedly made announcements on farmers receiving amount on Tuesday.
In a dramatic way the BRS leaders said by Tuesday morning even before farmers could have their breakfast their mobile phones will send notifications on deposit of funds in their bank accounts. “Your mobiles will sound ting.. ting.. ting” they said infusing enthusiasm among the crowds in several public meetings.
