ECI directs govt to defer Rythu Bharosa
New Indian ExpressHYDERABAD: In a jolt to the ruling Congress, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday deferred disbursement of aid under the Rythu Bharosa to farmers till the completion of polling for the Lok Sabha elections on May 13. The ECI move came following a complaint from one N Venukumar, stating that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy violated the model code of conduct by announcing at a ‘Jana Jatara’ meeting in Kothagudem a couple of day ago that disbursement of Rythu Bharosa assistance would be completed on or before May 9. In a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj, the ECI stated that the chief minister has violated MCC and the balance amount under the scheme for 2023 Rabi season should be deposited in the accounts of the beneficiary farmers only after Lok Sabha elections. ‘’Though Rythu Bharosa is an ongoing scheme, the disbursement of 2023 Rabi season assistance must have been completed by January 2024 as per the precedent. Further, according to complaint received from Venukumar and report thereupon received from the Telangana CEO, the ECI found that Revanth Reddy has violated the MCC conditions laid down in this regard for ongoing scheme by publicly speaking about ensuing disbursement under Rythu Bharosa scheme on or before May 9, which has also been reported in the media,’’ ECI stated in the letter.