Jaipur, Nov. 13 -- The Rajasthan government is yet to take a call on reintroducing mandatory educational qualifications for candidates contesting Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections, with differing views emerging within the ruling party and the cabinet over the proposal. Officials describe the situation as one of "wait and watch," with differing opinions emerging both within the government and the ruling party. Urban development and housing (UDH) minister Jhabar Singh Kharra said that the deliberations are underway. "There are two sides to this issue. One group believes that educational qualification should be made mandatory, while the other argues that it will deprive the system of experienced representatives. If the rule is implemented, only young and new faces will dominate local bodies. Discussions are ongoing, and a final decision will be taken at the level of the chief minister and the Cabinet," he said. The debate over educational qualifications in local elections is not new. In 2015, the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government introduced mandatory educational criteria for candidates in Panchayati Raj and municipal elections. Under the rules, sarpanches were required to have passed Class 8 (Class 5 in tribal TSP areas), while ward members could be uneducated. For panchayat samiti and zila parishad members, as well as urban councillors and mayors, a minimum qualification of Class 10 was required. However, in 2019, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government repealed the provision, calling it exclusionary and unfair to grassroots leaders, especially women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Recently, several organisations and BJP leaders have written to the chief minister and the UDH minister, urging the government to restore the requirement of educational qualifications in local elections. They argue that having educated representatives will ensure better governance, transparency, and understanding of policies. Kharra acknowledged that the department has received formal representations and demand letters. "Whenever such proposals come, the government examines them thoroughly. Papers move, discussions happen, but no final call has been made yet. Once a decision is taken, amendments to the law can follow - as they did in the past," he said....