Days after approving the disbursement of Rabi season instalment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu Scheme in telangana during the Model Code of Conduct, the election commission of india on monday withdrew the nod citing violation of the rules. In the two-page letter, the ECI directed the state’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that its order is immediately be conveyed to the government of Telangana. “… the Commission has directed that the permission granted … for disbursement of Rabi season instalment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme during currency of MCC, shall stand withdrawn immediately and there shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State of telangana ceases to apply in all its forms,” the poll body said.

The ECI also said that the Rabi instalments of Rythu Bandhu assistance were disbursed by the State of telangana during October-January in last five years and there is neither any fix dates of disbursement prescribed in the scheme, nor any special significance of disbursement in the month of november is assigned in design or performance of the scheme.

The ECI had directed that no new beneficiaries should be added to the list of eligible beneficiaries and no publicity should be made in this regard. Also, no public function should be organized for disbursement of kits/items in kind and no political functionary will be involved in the process of disbursement. The ECI had also said that as far as possible direct electronic transfer of cash components should be made through the account of the beneficiary and there should be no distribution of cheques in this regard. telangana will vote on november 30 and counting of votes will be held on december 3.