Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies G.R. Anil termed the Centre’s decision to distribute 'Bharat rice' in Thrissur a move to woo voters ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

Speaking at an event in Nedumangad on Friday, Anil reasoned that Centre distributes rice at Rs 29/kg, whereas Supplyco sells the same variety for Rs 25/kg in the state. 

Earlier this week, the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) started to distribute rice in the Thrissur district. Furthermore, it is also reported that NCCF plans to set up outlets across the state for distribution. 

"They sell the rice available at Ration Shops for Rs 29/kg as 'Bharat Rice'. This is not high-quality rice, as one might expect. We sell the same rice variety through Supplyco stores for Rs 25/kg. The same rice is sold at Rs 4/kg to blue cardholders and Rs 10.90 for white cardholders in ration shops," he explained. 

Anil went on to criticise the action as a BJP attempt to garner voters in the Thrissur constituency ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, he had alleged that the Centre had violated the National Food Security Act that mandates the distribution of food grains through ration outlets operated under state governments.