Telangana Government to Remove Two-Child Norm for Local Body Polls

The government of Telangana has taken a major step to liberalise eligibility criteria for local body elections by preparing an ordinance to abolish the existing two-child norm. Under the current law — the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 — individuals with more than two children are disqualified from contesting in panchayat elections. The Times of India+1

During the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the decision to issue the ordinance was officially green-lit ahead of being taken to the Governor for final assent. The file has already been signed by the Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, D. Anasuya Seethakka. The Times of India

Officials say the change is timed to ensure that upcoming rural local body polls proceed without the disqualification barrier, and the legal framework will then be formalised through legislative amendment. The removal of this rule aligns Telangana with other states which had already phased out similar restrictions. The Times of India+1

Government supporters argue the move will broaden political participation, particularly among large-families who had been barred from contesting. Critics, however, caution about demographic impacts and electoral fairness if population-based norms are relaxed without broader structural safeguards.