The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written to Shalini Rajneesh, the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, raising concerns about the release of funds under various welfare schemes ahead of the upcoming bypolls in Davanagere South and Bagalkot on April 9. The ECI's letter, dated April 2, highlights potential violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which prohibits the release of new financial benefits without prior approval during election periods. The ECI is requesting detailed information about the funds released to beneficiaries in these constituencies, including the names of the officials responsible for sanctioning these releases. In response, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar stated that the benefits under these schemes were provided until March and that any further installments would be released after the elections. He characterized the ECI's letter as part of a broader conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to undermine these welfare initiatives, which he claims are crucial for the poor and unemployed youth. Shivakumar expressed confidence that voters would respond to such actions.