Hyderabad: The Election Commission has applied brakes on two pet welfare schemes of ruling TDP (Telugu Desam Party) in Andhra Pradesh, directing authorities to 'defer' distribution of LPG connections to rural women and bi-cycles to girl students and also ordered police inquiry into publication of a booklet highlighting achievements of the Government.

"Distribution of benefits to individuals should be deferred during this period. We have told the Chief Secretary to stop it. We will be giving appropriate written instructions also," the Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy told reporters in Hyderabad today (Mar 12, 2004).

However, emergency measures like drought relief works and projects not related to any particular individual could continue, provided they are administered by a committee of officials and not politicians, the CEC said after a meeting with the State officials to review poll preparedness and security arrangements.

During the interaction CEC and Election Commissioners B B Tandon and N Gopalaswamy had with representatives of political parties, the Opposition had complained that the Government was going ahead with distribution of cooking gas connections and bi-cycles in violation of election code of conduct.

On publication of booklet '100 months of achievements', which has triggered a political storm in the State, Krishnamurthy said the Commission had asked city police commissioner to conduct inquiry and action would be taken if there was any violation of code of conduct.