Telangana set to scrap 2-child norm ahead of panchayat polls

Time of India

2 days ago

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Hyderabad: In a move that could significantly alter the rural political landscape ahead of gram panchayat elections, the Congress govt is preparing to scrap the decades-old two-child norm that bars candidates with more than two children from contesting local body polls.
Sources close to chief minister A Revanth Reddy confirmed that the proposal to delete section 21(3) of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, will be placed before the cabinet at its next meeting. Ministers have already expressed unanimous support for lifting the restriction, which was introduced in 1994 during the united Andhra Pradesh era.
The govt believes the change is urgent, especially in light of its plan to provide 42% reservations to Backward Classes in local body elections.
"Removing the norm will give political parties greater choice in selecting candidates not only from BCs but from other communities as well," a senior official explained.
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The move comes amid concerns that states which effectively curbed population growth—often through measures like the two-child norm—could lose political clout and central funds once the delimitation freeze ends in 2026.
Several states have already removed similar restrictions, including Andhra Pradesh, which passed legislation to that effect last year.
Telangana's cabinet will decide whether to introduce the change through an ordinance or a bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the assembly.
The Telangana high court had earlier upheld the two-child clause, stating it was for the govt to decide its removal. Petitioners argued the rule discriminated against rural candidates, as it had already been scrapped for urban municipal elections.
State govt adviser on SC, ST, BC, and minority affairs, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, said the norm was outdated.
"Even China is encouraging people to have more children. Telangana too should remove it for the upcoming panchayat polls," he said. The move reflects a growing nationwide trend to scrap the two-child norm, driven by concerns over an ageing population and the pressing need to encourage a younger generation, he added.
If the BC quota is implemented, parties will need nearly 50,000 BC candidates to contest in about 12,800 gram panchayats, plus over 1.13 lakh ward posts.
The Telangana State Election Commission is already preparing electoral rolls to hold polls before Sept 30, as directed by the high court.
Amid concerns over a declining population and its long-term impact on the workforce, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has urged people to consider having more children. Citing global examples and the need to sustain demographic balance, he said a shrinking younger population could hurt economic growth and social stability, and stressed that families should rethink limiting themselves to just one or two children.
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