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Stay away from RCY, politicians told

HYDERABAD: The Election Commission has finally given clearance, though with strings attached, to the State government’s proposal to undertake Rythu Chaitanya Yathra programme from May 17 to June 3 throughout the State, including the ten districts where byelections will be held.

Its green signal has averted a confrontation between the State government and the EC as the Cabinet adopted a resolution on Friday deciding to go ahead with the programme in view of the coming month’s kharif season. The Commission, however, laid down the condition that the programme should be conducted by officials and political functionaries barred from participation.

They should not make any promises involving financial benefit to the farmers, according to a communication received by Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao from the Commission.

The EC’s decision paves way for the government to go ahead with all the three farmers’ programmes -- RCY, Rythu Sadassus and training of the 50,000 Adarsha Rythus (progressive farmers).

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, who fumed at the EC earlier, thanked the Commission and assured that no political functionary would be involved in the RCY.

Meanwhile, the government issued orders lifting the ban on transfer of its employees from May 15 to June 6 to facilitate their shifting to fulfil requests and meet administrative exigencies.

The EC had given its nod to these transfers last week with the condition not to disturb employees engaged in election work.

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