CM Cancels Kadapa Racha Banda

The Model Code of Conduct was the reason given by the Chief Minister’s Office for the cancellation of the Racha Banda program in Kadapa district on Friday.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was scheduled to hold the Racha Banda meetings in Kadapa and Nellore districts on Friday, the culmination of the prestigious program launched to take the administration to the doorsteps of the people.

The Election Commission on February 8 imposed the Model Code of Conduct by announcing that the biennial elections to the graduates' and teachers' constituencies of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council will be held on March 13.

Despite knowing that the Chief Minister would not be able to conduct Racha Banda due to the Model Code, the authorities continued to make preparations for Friday’s program. The money spent on making the arrangements of the program that was seen as a litmus test for the Congress in the backyard of former MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, has now gone waste.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy was scheduled to participate in the Racha Banda to be held at Kadapa on Friday and Nellore district on Saturday.

Officially, the Racha Banda program has been held at 1,529 places throughout the state (up to the 16th day): Andhra - 552 places, Rayalaseema - 297 places, Telangana - 680 places. There were reports of minor disruptions at 101 places in Telangana. Many more beneficiaries received assets and other benefits at different places in the state today.

The Racha Banda program has covered 22,512 villages / gram panchayats - 9,088 in Andhra, 4,238 in Rayalaseema and 9,186 in Telangana. Till today, the Racha Banda program has been held in 24,041 GPs/Wards all over the state.

Courtesy: INN