New Delhi: The Bhajanlal Sharma-led government in Rajasthan is gearing up to make a major and far-reaching change in the state’s politics. The state government has clearly indicated that the two-child requirement for Panchayat and Municipal elections will be abolished. According to the government’s response presented in the Assembly, even those with three or more children will now be able to contest Municipal and Panchayat elections.
The government has taken steps towards abolishing this rule, which has been in place for the past three decades. It is believed that this decision is being taken as part of ‘Mission 2026’ to ensure widespread social participation in rural and urban local body politics.
According to the government’s reply in the VO-Vidhan Sabha, the rule has become irrelevant in today’s social and demographic circumstances. The government believes that in a democracy, the right to contest elections should not be linked to family size. This decision could provide significant political benefits, especially to those in rural areas, the backward classes, and underprivileged communities.
Many social activists and public representatives have previously been excluded from the electoral process due to this condition. The government may soon finalise the legal process and amendments in this regard. However, the opposition is also raising voices of protest against this decision.
PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasara described it as a retreat from the population control policy. Dotasara said that Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had banned those with more than two children from contesting elections, but now, after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement on having more than three children, the government is following the same path and taking this decision. The government is presenting it as a democratic reform.
What is the ‘two children’ rule?
For a long period of time, candidates having more than two children would not be able to contest the Panchayat and Municipal elections. Its purpose was to promote population control, but over time, this rule has also been accused of discrimination and social imbalance.