BRS suffers jolt; ECI revokes approval for Rythu Bandhu distribution over Harish Rao's statement
The ECI took cognizance of press statements wherein Harish Rao is said to have stated that Rythu Bandhu will be disbursed from November 28
By Newsmeter Network Published on 27 Nov 2023 4:30 AM GMT
Telangana: In a major setback to the BRS government in Telangana, the Election Commission of India has revoked the approval to distribute Rythu Bandhu ahead of state elections.
The revocation followed a poll violation by BRS Minister T Harish Rao.
According to EC officials, the health minister who is also one of the many star campaigners of BRS violated the condition for the grant of permission to the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme.
The ECI took cognizance of press statements wherein Harish Rao is said to have stated that Rythu Bandhu will be disbursed from November 28. Having examined this statement, the EC on November 28 revoked the permission to distribute Rythu Bandhu to farmers.
#Telangana: In a major set back to the BRS government, the ECI has revoked its approval to distribute Rythu Bandhu ahead of the #telangaelection2023.
— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) November 27, 2023
Reason being- BRS Minister @HarishRaoOffice CONDITION for grant of permission to ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme.
ECI took… pic.twitter.com/PjTLmuyvuO
Reason for cancellation of the approval
The Commission has been informed that T. Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Heath & Family Welfare, Govt. of Telangana has made statements regarding the disbursement of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme by a particular time before the date of the poll, which is widely reported in newspapers and local media on November 26, 2023.
The Commission observed that T. Harish Rao has not only violated the provisions of MCC contained in Para VII of the Model Code of Conduct but also the conditions laid down above by publicizing the release under the scheme, thereby disturbing the level playing field in the ongoing election process.
In this context, it is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and conditions laid down while granting 'no objection'. The Commission has directed that the permission granted for disbursement of the Rabi season installment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme shall stand withdrawn immediately and there shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State.
