An appraisal of Telangana’s Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks concerning the “Rythu Bharosa” initiative led the Election Commission of India (ECI) to declare on Tuesday that the CM had transgressed the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
“In response to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s endeavors to assert recognition for the distribution of the Rabi Instalments under the ongoing ‘Rythu Bharosa’ (farmers scheme) and his breach of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) through media declarations, the Election Commission of India has presently ordained a postponement of the yet-to-be-distributed instalments until post-election day, i.e., May 13, 2024,” a formal statement articulated.
“This resolution is a reaction to a perplexing and irregular prolongation in the distribution process, typically executed in the months of Nov-Dec, along with apprehensions regarding endeavors to politicize the ongoing scheme during the General Elections 2024,” it elaborated.
It is imperative to acknowledge that akin instructions were dispensed during the Telangana Assembly elections in 2023 regarding the “Rythu Bandhu” initiative. On that occasion, a Minister of the then BRS regime breached the MCC by striving to seize recognition for the scheme’s distribution during the electoral period.
In light of these apprehensions, the electoral authority has directed the postponement of the yet-to-be-distributed portion of the Rythu Bharosa Initiative until post the election day of May 13, 2024. A directive has been conveyed to the Government of Telangana. This resolution aims at safeguarding the integrity of the electoral procedure and deterring the exploitation of governmental initiatives for electoral benefits.
“Any endeavor to politicize or manipulate such governmental initiatives for electoral motives will be sternly addressed to uphold the sanctity of the democratic process,” asserted the electoral authority.
Similarly, the electoral authority rebuked YSRCP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu on Monday for breaching the MCC, instructing them to “exercise caution during public articulations”.