It has been a bad day for the Congress with the Election Commission.
First, the EC decision to halt the 28th instalment of the KCR government’s flagship Rythu Bandhu scheme benefitting Telangana farmers, a day ahead of the polls in the state.
The Congress, which was initially thrilled with the decision of the EC to act upon its complaint, soon realized that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was not to be seen as being on the backfoot. The BRS hit back, hard. It reached out to the voters, accusing the Congress of being anti-farmer.
Around 55% of the population in the state is involved in farming in some way or the other, which is why both the BRS and Congress are wooing these voters. The Rythu Bandhu scheme promises Rs 5,000 per acre per season to farmers. The Congress has a counter to this – Rythu Bharosa, under which Rs 15,000 to farmers and Rs 12,000 to farm labourers would be given annually. The Congress had hoped that the EC stricture would give the Congress’s guarantee to farmers an edge, but it had not bargained for the strong fight back from the BRS.
The Congress gave quick clarifications, led by KC Venugopal and Revanth Reddy. But Jairam Ramesh had to clear the air immediately in damage control by announcing that the Congress, within 10 days of coming to power, would put money into their accounts.
But the damage or setback may have already been done.
It didn’t stop at this.
In a late night development, the EC declared that the Karnataka government ads, which were being shown in Telangana and flaunted as its achievements to be replicated in Telangana, were a violation of the model code of conduct. This action was based on a complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Congress from being a back-bencher in the battle for Telangana is clearly in the race. And it wants to ensure that no mistakes, which could derail their hope of winning in the state, are made.
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