The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje had announced that the farmers would get free electricity, a step that the government wouldn’t have been able to make had the Model Code of Conduct implemented in the state. PM Modi had also attended this rally on Saturday.
This move by the government would benefit more than 12 lakh farmers where they will receive electricity up to Rs 10,000 for a year on their agricultural electricity connection. The scheme is said to be effective from November 2018 billing month for the general category rural farmers.
Officials of the Rajasthan Energy Department had stated that this benefit will be available in the form of grants through Direct Benefit transfer (DBT). The farmers will have to pay the bill first, after which a maximum amount of Rs 833 per month shall be deposited in their bank accounts.
The Energy Department has already issued orders to the power distribution companies in Jaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur.
However, the Congress party seems to be miffed by this move of the government as it had made the announcement just hours before the Election commission announced the election dates for the assembly polls. As per the rule, once the elections are announced, the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, which bars political parties from making any new policy announcements.
Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot said, “Half an hour before election dates, free electricity was announced. You did not remember this for five years? This shows how desperate they (BJP) are.”
The Congress also accused EC of being partial as the Commission had in a press release on Saturday morning notified the timing of the press conference called for the announcement of the poll to be at 12.30 pm. But they later released a letter delaying the media interaction by three hours to 3.30 pm.
The Congress had questioned the independence of the Election Commission over last-minute postponement in the announcement of poll dates for the upcoming state Assembly elections. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has also hinted in a tweet that the announcement was deliberately postponed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address an election rally at Ajmer at 1pm.
Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and congress leader Ashok Gehlot has also lashed out at Chief Minister Raje for her attempts to “lure” farmers, saying she is reminded of their issues when it is time for her “vidai” (departure).
He also claimed that she announced free electricity for farmers only after the Congress announced to give free power to farmers at “Charbhuja Kisan Sammelan”, he claimed.
“What’s the meaning of making this announcement an hour before the implementation of code of conduct by this outgoing government?” Gehlot asked, adding: “Why she didn’t give free electricity to farmers in her five-year tenure?” He further accused the BJP government of raising the electricity tariff in the past five years.
The state will conduct its poll on December 7.