Guntur: Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued an order halting the ruling YSR Congress Party from directly transferring cash to beneficiaries of government schemes until May 13, the day when the state will complete a single-phase election for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats.

The court's decision came in response to a petition filed by student and women beneficiaries of various schemes. Initially, the court allowed the cash transfers for today, but it decided to stop them for 72 hours leading up to Monday, the election day. Approximately ₹14,165 crore was scheduled to be distributed. Opposition parties had raised concerns about the cash transfers continuing during the election period when the Model Code of Conduct is in force. Responding to these complaints, the Election Commission directed the suspension of funds until further notice.

Earlier, the High Court had permitted the beneficiaries to continue benefiting from the welfare schemes that the ruling YSRCP claimed to have been running for several months. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy accused his predecessor, N Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is allied with the BJP, of seeking the Centre's help to stall the ongoing Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) in the state to portray the ruling party in a bad light.

Addressing a rally in East Godavari's Rajanagaram, Mr. Reddy alleged that Mr. Naidu, through his sister-in-law D Purandeswari, who is the state BJP president, sought the Centre's intervention. He claimed, "They are pressurizing the Election Commission to halt DBTs for ongoing welfare schemes of the state like pensions and input subsidy, among others."

He further added, "Over the past 59 months, we devised a welfare calendar that outlines scheme distributions each month, ensuring promises are fulfilled on time. YSR Congress will reclaim power on June 4, and within a week, we will expedite all scheme distributions."

Appealing to the people to vote for the YSR Congress Party in the May 13 election, he emphasized the importance of the power of the people's vote, especially for women, the elderly, and the youth. He urged them to use their votes resoundingly to make their voices heard in Delhi.

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