The Election Commission on Tuesday banned implementation of Kerala government’s decision to extend the rice-at-Rs 2 per kg scheme to cover 40 lakh families in view of the model code of conduct which went into force with announcement of assembly elections in the state.
The scheme, announced by chief minister V S Achuthanandan after a cabinet meeting on February 23, just six days before announcement of the poll dates, is yet to be implemented.
State chief electoral officer Nalini Netto said in a release that government should not further take up campaign over the scheme. The distribution of application forms for families to be enrolled in the scheme has also been banned, the release said.
The cabinet had decided to extend the `rice at Rs 2 per kg scheme to families belonging to Above Poverty Line (APL) category, also subject to certain conditions. The state is going to polls on April 13.