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Saturday, May 10, 2008
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State on collision course with EC

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister’s decision on white card holders to be verified

HYDERABAD: Has the State Government set itself on a collision course with the Election Commission?

Going by a complaint lodged by the BJP, Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao on Friday addressed a communication to the Chief Secretary to verify whether the announcement made by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy enhancing the income limit for issuing white ration cards was “a policy decision” applicable to all districts.

Mr. Rao told reporters later that if it was a policy decision covering the 10 districts where byelections were being held, he would accordingly report to the Commission for appropriate action.

Even as clearance from the Commission to the government proposal to launch Rythu Chaitanya Yathra (RCY) programme from May 17 to June 3 is awaited, the Cabinet, at its meeting here on Friday, adopted a resolution to commence RCY in the entire State without excluding the 10 byelection districts. Information Minister A. Ramanarayan Reddy said the RCY did not come under election code.

Ministers would flag off the yatras in all the constituencies.

Liquor ban

Meanwhile, the CEO, after a review on liquor movement, asked the government to keep the 10 districts dry without liquor from 5 pm on May 27 to 5 pm on May 29 in view of polling on May 29. Liquor sale would not be allowed in these districts on June 1 when counting of votes would be taken up.

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