Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday, April 16, 2011: The State Election Commission has decided to lift the ban imposed on the Kerala government’s directive extending its subsidised rice distribution scheme (at Rs.2 a kg) to all ration cardholders in the State so as to benefit 40-lakh people. The EC has also informed that the distribution of the rice scheme could start from tomorrow onwards.

EC had imposed a ban on the rice scheme by informing that the implementation of the scheme would influence the voters for the Assembly polls and it would be a violation of the poll code of conduct. Meanwhile the Kerala High Court quashed the EC’s directive imposing a ban on the scheme. The commission approached the Supreme Court and got a stay on the HC directive.

EC informed that several complaints had been received against the government’s decision to implement the scheme as it would prove politically favourable to the ruling LDF government during the polls. High Court had earlier sought EC’s reply while considering a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Rajaji Mathew Thomas, Ollur MLA against the rice scheme.

The Cabinet which met on February 23 decided to offer rice for all at Rs 2 per kg. 40 lakh families earlier benefited from it. The government issued an order in connection with it on February 25. The election commission announced the dates on March 1 and the poll code of conduct came into force.