Hyderabad: Following in the footsteps of neighboring Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana government is poised to abolish the two-child restriction for candidates contesting rural local body elections. A bill amending the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, to lift this bar will be introduced in the upcoming winter session of the state assembly.
Recently, the Andhra Pradesh assembly passed a similar bill, citing socio-economic changes and a declining fertility rate as reasons for the policy shift. Telangana, like Andhra, has made significant strides in population control and has expressed frustration over being penalized for its success.
Officials revealed that complaints have been filed in court, highlighting the disparity between rural and urban local body elections. Petitioners argued that while candidates with more than two children are allowed to run in urban elections, rural candidates face restrictions. The court, acknowledging these concerns, has urged the Telangana government to take appropriate action.
This upcoming move by the Telangana government is expected to bring uniformity in electoral eligibility across both urban and rural areas.
