In a surprising development that likely to influence voters during polling day, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has given clearance for YS Jaganmohan Reddy government for transfer of Rs 14,165 into beneficiaries accounts, under various welfare schemes.
Earlier, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had objected to this cash transfer fearing that it would influence voters during polling and suggested to transfer the same amount after polling day is over.
However, the AP High Court has given a stay for one day on this ECI order and allowed AP Government to transfer money into beneficiaries accounts on Thursday, but restricted such transfers for the next three days, till the end of polling.
Opposition parties objected to these money transfers alleging that the Jaganmohan Reddy government mobilised this amount towards pushing buttons for various schemes since January, this year. ECI also objected to why the government delayed money transfer, which was expected to be transferred within two days of pushing the button. It clearly said that would amount to violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
But, there was no convincing response from the state government clearly indicating this was designed to influence voters on the polling day. The High Court also ignored ECI’s concerns on MCC violation.
Meanwhile, TDP spokesperson Nilayapalem Vijay Kumar on Thursday alleged that the YCP government conspired to buy their votes with people’s money by transferring money into the accounts of the beneficiaries one or two days before the polling.
He said that this plot was revealed by the latest report given to ECI that the funds of various schemes were in the public domain before the Election Code. He demanded that the Chief Secretary should answer the EC’s questions as to why the funds have been kept in the treasury for four months.
It was alleged that the state government had deposited Rs.14,000 crores related to various schemes in the accounts of the respective departments in January itself. Vijay Kumar demanded an answer from the government that why the amount was kept idle for four months?
