The newly-appointed Congress Government takes a “progressive” decision by doing away with the criteria of minimum educational qualification for contesting local body polls. Rajasthan’s Gehlot cabinet approved two amendments bills in 15th Rajasthan assembly.
Both the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and the Rajasthan Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will be introduced in state assembly during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
The education criteria were introduced by the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in 2015. Under this norm, a candidate had to pass Class X for contesting municipal, Zila Parishad or Panchayat Samiti elections. However, a candidate contesting for the post of a sarpanch is required to have passed Class VIII or Class V in tribal-reserved areas.
Congress government’s selective discussion
Gehlot cabinet also decided to ask the state public service commission to extend the date of the RAS main examination. It also aims to conduct the exam in an organized manner in order to ensure aspirants are not affected. The development came after the aspirants for Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) staged a massive protest demanding the government to extend the exam. The decisions came during a meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence on Thursday.
The cabinet also discussed issues related to water, electricity, and schemes for the unemployed youths, the party leaders said. But, the issue of 10-per cent reservation for “economically weaker” section in the general category is yet to be discussed.
However, the removal of education criteria is the questionable priority of CM Ashok Gehlot and his cabinet. The former government had taken a progressive step by barring uneducated politicians to become the mass leader but the grand-old party seems in no mood of walking with young India.
