Telangana CM's campaign violates election code: ECI

Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the Telangana State government to postpone the distribution of funds under the Rythu Bharosa scheme until after the general elections scheduled for May 13.

This directive comes in response to what the ECI deemed a serious breach of the model code of conduct by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who made announcements regarding the scheme during his campaign speeches.

In a letter addressed to the chief electoral officer of Telangana, the ECI highlighted the violation of the MCC, citing instances where the chief minister promised in his campaign speeches that the Rythu Bharosa funds would be credited to farmers' accounts by May 9.

The letter stated, "In light of the aforementioned breach of the Model Code of Conduct by Revanth Reddy, president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee and star campaigner and chief minister, the Election Commission has directed that disbursement of balance installment under the Rythu Bharosa scheme for Rabi season of 2023 will be effected only after completion of the poll in the state of Telangana on 13.05.2024."

This decision was made promptly, within 24 hours of the state government's release of Rs 15.81 crore as a one-time relief measure to compensate 15,246 farmers across 10 districts in Telangana for crop damage caused by heavy rains and hailstorms between March 16 and March 21.