Poll code halts govt largesse

The announcement of the Assembly elections dates by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday put a break on the State government’s announcement and approval spree. For, the model code of conduct has come into effect, barring the government from taking any step that would entice the voters.

The Jagadish Shettar government had been frequently holding Cabinet meetings and clearing proposals aimed at the polls.

The State Cabinet held its meeting twice in the last eight days (normally, the meeting is held once a week). The Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening is learnt to have approved about 100 proposals, anticipating the election announcement by the ECI.

Prominent among the decisions taken in recent days is implementation of Rs two per kg rice scheme to all BPL families with effect from March 2013, increasing the annual tastik amount (maintenance grant) to all Muzrai temples from Rs 12,000 to Rs 24,000, hiking the monthly wages for those working in Gram Panchayat libraries and new pension scheme for Bangalore Dairy employees.

The Cabinet also granted government lands to a number of private organisations that are reportedly in the good books of the ruling BJP and accorded necessary approvals for taking up infrastructure projects, especially those planned to be implemented in Bangalore.

A majority of these schemes and projects are likely to be put on hold due to the model code of conduct, official sources said.

The Rs two per kg rice scheme was actually announced in the 2013-14 budget, which comes into effect from April 2013 (the next fiscal year).

With an eye on the polls, the State Cabinet gave effect to the scheme from March (the last month of the 2012-13 fiscal year). The scheme will directly benefit an estimated 80 lakh BPL families in the State.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had planned to formally launch the scheme with much pomp at a public function at Koppa in Chikmagalur district on Thursday. But the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, got it cancelled as it amounts to violation of the model code of conduct.

But it is not clear whether the government can go ahead implementing the scheme. While Food and Civil Supplies Minister D N Jeevaraj claimed that the scheme can be implemented as the government order to that effect was issued four days ago, Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said he had sought information from the government in this regard.

The chief minister is learnt to have cancelled all his public functions scheduled in the coming days. He was set to launch several programmes in Bangalore, Mysore and Dharwad. Ditto is the case with all the Cabinet ministers.

Electoral officer to seek clarification

Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said the model code of conduct means no new schemes or projects can be announced. The government cannot take up new work, even if the approval has been secured and the tenders finalised. Hence, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (OCEO) directed the Chikmagalur Deputy Commissioner to cancel the rice scheme launch programme scheduled on Thursday, he said.

When asked whether the government can implement decisions taken in the recent Cabinet meetings, he said he would seek clarification from the chief secretary on all the Cabinet approvals and take appropriate steps.