He said his party would win at least one more seat than it did in 2018, and dismissed the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Published Nov 29, 2023 | 5:34 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2023 | 5:34 PM
KTR asked the party workers to make people aware of the slew of measures that Chief Minister KCR has taken. (KTRBRS/ twitter)
Finding fault with the Election Commission (EC) for stopping the disbursement of funds under the Rythu Bandhu scheme in Telangana, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday, 29 November, asked the poll panel how funds under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi were allowed to be released.
In an informal chat with mediapersons, where Rama Rao raised the issue, he said his party would win at least one more seat than it did in 2018, and dismissed the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies, saying they were mainly aimed at the Parliament elections rather than the Telangana Assembly polls.
The minister, however, questioned why the central scheme PM Kisan was not halted, whereas the EC ordered the Telangana to pause Rythu Bandu disbursements.
“How come PM Kisan is permitted? How come Congress did not make a noise? This is an example that BJP and Congress are colluding with each other,” the minister alleged.
“Even the Election Commission did not stop (disbursement under PM Kisan). Why Rythu Bandhu was stopped? Why no protest against PM Kisan?” Rama Rao asked.
Rythu Bandhu is the flagship programme of the BRS government, under which farmers are paid ₹10,000 per acre as investment support in two instalments annually — during the kharif and rabi seasons.
The Congress on 26 November requested the Chief Election Commissioner to restrict the BRS from mentioning Rythu Bandhu disbursements in their poll campaign.
In a setback to the ruling BRS, the EC on 27 November withdrew permission given to the Telangana government for disbursements to farmers for rabi crops, pointing to state Finance Minister Harish Rao’s public announcement about the release of the financial aid.
“What is wrong with Harish Rao talking about it? If Harish Rao talks about it, they should have taken action against Harish Rao. Why should they stop the scheme? Why are they stopping the entire scheme (for 70 lakh farmers)?,” the BRS leader further questioned.
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