Jolt Before Polls: EC Bars AP Volunteers

The volunteer system is the proud brainchild of CM YS Jagan in Andhra Pradesh. These volunteers were used to carry out the case benefit schemes including pension distribution by the YSR Congress government and they are more or less seen as the representatives of the government.

With the election code in effect, the opposition parties were concerned if these volunteers, who were paid a token amount monthly by the government over the last five years, would influence the polling trends at the grassroots level. So, a court case was filed against the use of volunteers for government-oriented schemes, post which, the court ordered the Election Commission to take action against the influence of volunteers.

The ECI has now missed a new order barring volunteers from distribution of cash benefits under any scheme. It is further added that the handheld devices including mobile phones that were provided to these volunteers by the AP government must be deposited with the District Election Officers till the election code is in effect. The government has been asked to plan alternatives for the cash distribution process.

Earlier, these volunteers used to distribute pensions in villages and towns on the 1st of every month. But right ahead of the polls, they are barred from carrying out this program, which could be seen as a logistical and influential challenge to the YCP government as they will have to find an alternative quickly. The plan to have volunteers working at the ground level for the government has been dismantled by the ECI at a crucial juncture and it shall be seen how the YCP government will react to this.