Hyderabad, October 3: The state election commission on Wednesday asked Telangana Rashtra Samithi-led government not to distribute free sarees to the state’s poor women on the occasion of Bathukamma, a Telangana folk festival celebrated during the Dasara Navratri celebrations, after receiving several complaints against the scheme.

The election commission took the U-turn just a day after clearing the proposal of the Telanagana government. The model code of conduct will not apply to government schemes and programmes announced before September 6 when the state assembly was dissolved, state chief electoral officer Rajath Kumar had said. The model code of conduct was enforced on September 27. Amit Shah to Address Public Rally in Telangana on October 10 for Upcoming Assembly Elections.

In a bid to woo female votes and weavers, the state government annouced a scheme in September 2017 under which free sarees will be given to around 96 lakh women living below poverty line (BPL) as gift for the Bathukamma festival. The state government had alloacted Rs 280 crore for the scheme. It has placed orders with weavers for sarees, each of which will cost Rs 290.

The Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6 on the recommendation of Chief Minister K Chandrsekhar Rao-led government, more than six months before the expiry of its term, to pave the way for early elections. The election commission is yet to announce the poll schedule.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2018 10:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).