Fact Check: Did Smriti Irani announce new Bill disqualifying election contestants who have married twice?

The message reads, "Smriti Irani has said that the Center has put in place a bill to disqualify from contesting elections if more than two marriages have taken place (sic)."

The message is also being shared on other social media platforms like Facebook.

FACT CHECK

NewsMeter searched online for reports about such an announcement made by Smriti Irani but found none. No media outlets have reported about Ms. Irani announcing that people who've been married more than twice will be disqualified from contesting elections.

Although all Indian citizens have an equal chance of contesting in elections, there are certain restrictions. Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 states that a person is disqualified from contesting elections for up to six years if they are convicted of any crime and sentenced to two years or more in prison. Those convicted of a criminal offense cannot contest elections, but this ban does not apply to a candidate undergoing a criminal trial. The Act only disqualifies electoral candidates once they are convicted of criminal charges. (Read more here, here, and here)

A non-citizen cannot contest the elections in India.

Meanwhile, the minimum age for becoming a candidate for Lok Sabha (House of the People) is 25 years, for Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) is 25 years, for Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is 30 years, and for Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) is 30 years.

To contest an election, a person must be registered as a voter. Further qualifications and disqualification for contesting elections to the Parliament and State Legislature (except J&K) are given in Articles 84, 102, 173, and 191 of the Constitution and Sections 3 to 10A of the RP Act 1951. (Read further here and here)

Clearly, no Bill disqualifying election contestants who have been married more than two times has been passed or announced.