Jaipur: The ban on people with more than two children from contesting Panchayat and Municipal elections is likely to be lifted in Rajasthan. The state government said in the assembly that it is serious about this issue and will take cognizance of it.

The issue was raised by independent MLA Chandrabhan Singh who said that such rules are not in force to contest the MLA and MP election, then why the people with more than two children are being deprived for contesting the elections of Panchayats and Municipal bodies.

" The people are being deprived to contest the Panchayat and Municipal elections in the name of two - children norm while having more than two children is common in the villages and small towns,' said the MLA demanding that either the government should impose such a ban on all elections or should be relaxed for Municipal Body and Panchayat elections as well.

Responding to this issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said that the government is serious on this subject. This is not a matter related to any particular political party. The government has relaxed this rule in the promotions in government jobs. The government will take cognizance of this for local elections as well.

Notably, the norms to contest local elections are strict in Rajasthan as not only the two-children norm but minimum educational qualification is also there to become a Panchayat or Municipal Corporation representatives. The demand to relax these norms is long pending in the state.