Congress will amend laws to reduce minimum age to contest Assembly polls to 21 years: Revanth

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said the Congress will amend the existing law to reduce the minimum age to contest Assembly elections to 21 years soon after Rahul Gandhi attains the Prime Minister post, stating that Rahul can only fulfil former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s aspirations as Prime Minister of India. Currently, candidates aged 25 and above can contest Assembly elections.

Mr. Reddy paid floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi’s statue on the occasion of his birth anniversary celebrations at the Secretariat along with his Cabinet and party colleagues on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi is an inspiration for the youth and stressed the need to reduce the minimum age to contest Assembly polls. “Since the country needs the services of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and I will not rest until Rahul Gandhi is made Prime Minister,” Mr. Reddy said.

Remembering the yeoman services rendered by former PM Rajiv Gandhi for the upliftment of poorer sections, pioneering efforts to promote information technology, and transparency in governance, the Chief Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi was the inspiration behind the development of HITEC City in Hyderabad. “Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life to protect the country’s integrity and integrated technology with governance to deliver transparent administration,” he said, recalling the visionary leadership of Rajiv Gandhi. He also credited the former PM for women’s reservations.

Drawing inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi, the Chief Minister said that the people’s government in Telangana is moving forward to achieve socio-economic development. “The government has already enacted laws to provide 42% BC quota in education, employment and local body polls and has become the first State in the country to implement SC categorisation,” Mr. Reddy added.