A new law in BJP-ruled Haryana and Rajasthan states mandating that only those having minimum educational qualifications can contest panchayat elections, has found little support from Congress which dubbed the move as one "hurting constitutional rights".
But the BJP hit back at Congress saying that while efforts are being made to take country forward, the opposition party was "setting the clock backward."
One of the clauses in the law passed by the two states makes it clear that only those having minimum educational qualifications will be eligible to contest panchayat elections.
Haryana's law has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
"It hurts the constitutional right. All have right to vote and thus contest. No pre-condition can be imposed," Congress leader and former Union minister Anand Sharma said slamming the law.
But Environment Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said while efforts are being made to take the country forward, Congress was "setting the clock backward" by opposing the law which has been upheld by the judiciary. He said since it pertains to local polls, states have framed the law and it is not an all India decision.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the pre-condition imposed is "irrational" as those having a right to vote should also be free to contest.
He said such a law is "practical" when the level of literacy is anywhere between 90 per cent and 100 per cent. Otherwise it will "deny people a level playing field".
BJP Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said there was need to spread education in the country and such laws work as incentive for people regarding literacy. He said efforts should not be made to take the country "backward".
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In Tirunelveli, District Collector-cum-Election Officer M
Karunakaran told reporters that voters will cast their votes through EVMs in corporation, municipalities, town panchayats.
In rural panchayats, ballot boxes would be used, he said.
Nearly, 635 polling booths had been identified as sensitive and 69 as most sensitive in the district.
District administration was all set to provide additional police protection to these booths, he said.
With the announcement of the poll dates, the model code of conduct comes into force and the district administration was ready for the conduct of the polls, he said.
