Telangana's caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had declared Bathukamma as the state festival after the formation of the state in 2014, and he started distributing sarees to poor women from 2017, during the festival.
The Election Commission (EC) has asked the Telangana government not to distribute sarees during Bathukamma festival, citing that it will be a violation of model code of conduct by the caretaker government of K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).
KCR had declared Bathukamma as the state festival after the formation of Telangana state in 2014 and he started distributing sarees to poor women from 2017, during the festival.
Bathukamma is a festival equivalent to Navarathri or Dussehra. Now, with elections round the corner, the EC has clearly stated that the model code of conduct will come into effect immediately in the states where assemblies have been dissolved prematurely.
On September 27, the EC stated that Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) cannot introduce or announce any new schemes till the elections are over.
The condition has been laid as KCR had dissolved the Telangana assembly on September 6, nine months before the completion of the term of his current government.
Thus, EC has put a brake on KCR's plan to distribute 1.04 crore sarees under Public Distribution System.
However, it can also be noted that last year, many women from Chegal of Jagityal district and Bhongir had burnt the sarees alleging they were of poor quality.
Currently, the caretaker government had planned to distribute 95 lakh sarees of 80 varieties at a total cost of Rs 280 crore.
About the Batukamma Festival:
It is a festival of flowers celebrated by the women of Telangana during Navratri or Dussehra. It represents the cultural spirit of Telangana state. Bathukamma in Telugu culture refers to the worshipping of Goddess of womanhood called Gauri.
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