Congress, BRS Clash Over Farmer Aid Payments Ahead of Telangana Polls
• Congress tried to halt disbursement of Rythu Bandhu funds to farmers before Telangana elections, urging Election Commission to view it as wasteful expenditure influencing voters
• Harish Rao announced release of Rythu Bandhu funds, violating rule against public statements on schemes during election period, leading EC to temporarily revoke permission
• Congress written multiple letters to EC alleging BRS using Rythu Bandhu payments for political purposes, finally succeeding in getting EC to halt disbursal again
• KCR and Harish Rao slammed Congress for repeated attempts to block Rythu Bandhu aid to farmers, stating it would resume payments after forming government again
• Congress risks provoking farmers' anger by opposing popular Rythu Bandhu subsidy scheme, which BRS argues could prove politically costly for Congress