In a big boost to the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in Telangana, just six days ahead of polling in Telangana, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday gave clearance to the state government to disburse amounts to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
Following the ECI directions, the Telangana government started disbursing the Rythu Bandhu Subsidy money from Friday, the assistance is to be given for yasangi (rabi) to 70 lakh farmers amounting to Rs. 7,500 crore overall currently. BRS leaders in all parts of the state, took this as a personal task on themselves to reach out to farmers, as this will be their last interaction with farmers before polls.
రాష్ట్రంలో రైతుబంధు నిధులను ప్రభుత్వం విడుదల చేసిన సందర్భంగా రైతులు మరియు రైతు నాయకులతో… #JaiTelangana #RythuBandhu @RaoKavitha @KTRBRS @SingireddyBRS @Koppulaeshwar1 @BRSparty @TelanganaCMO pic.twitter.com/66N6TG7IvG
— Dava VasanthaSuresh (@DVS_BRS) November 25, 2023
Political analysts are looking at this as a positive sign for KCR led BRS party. Many are sure that, this disbursal of Rythu Bandhu before polls, will help the party gain farmer votes.
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 #𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚 :
— Actual India (@ActualIndia) November 24, 2023
The Election Commission of India has approved the distribution of 'Rythu Bandhu' funds to farmers.
Telangana government will begin distributing the amount of about 5000+ crores 🔜 | #Telangana | #BRS pic.twitter.com/Eb8vaeI0fS
Rythu Bandhu controversy this year
It is important to note that in a usual year, the government disburses the amount under its flagship program in January but keeping in view the upcoming Assembly elections, the government has been seeking to advance it, for which the ECI has now given a nod.
The leaders of the Congress party in Telangana have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), citing a range of concerns. These include the public financial benefits pledged by the incumbent BRS government, as well as allegations of preferential treatment by IAS, IPS, and retired bureaucrats towards the Telangana state government in the forthcoming Assembly elections slated for November 30.
The Congress leaders complained that the cash benefits declared by the BRS government in the form of Rythu Bandhu benefits to the farmers promised benefits to Dalits, Muslims, and housing benefits must be given before November 2.
Also Read: Telangana Elections: Where Is The Dalit Representation KCR Promised?
“All the cash transfers for welfare schemes to the beneficiaries must be done before the notification. The BRS government is repeatedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and prompting us to file a complaint with the Election Commission of India,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy, the former president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee
It should be recalled that the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu aid days before the December 7 polls in 2018 fetched handsome electoral returns to the BRS. Nonetheless, this move is considered to be a major boost for the BRS and will help bring the farmer votes on their side. The farmers constitute a large percentage of the voting population.
The BRS has promised to increase the Rythu Bandhu amount to Rs.16,000 per acre per annum. Even the Congress has announced a similar scheme in its manifesto promising Rs.15,000 per acre to farmers and tenant farmers.
