Shimla, Sept. 4 -- The assembly on Thursday also passed the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, barring a daughter-in-law from contesting panchayat elections if her in-laws' family has encroached upon government land. The Bill was passed despite opposition from the BJP, which termed the provision "anti-women". Rural development and panchayati raj minister Anirudh Singh tabled the Bill to amend the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, by expanding the definition of "family" to include a daughter-in-law. Under the existing provisions, a person encroaching upon government land, as well as their son, was barred from contesting elections to panchayats or municipal bodies, while the daughter-in-law remained eligible. The amendment extends the disqualification to the daughter-in-law. The State Election Commission had suggested changing the definition of "family" six years ago. Opposing the Bill, BJP MLA Randhir Sharma said a daughter-in-law came from a different family and should not be penalised for an act committed by her in-laws. He alleged that the provision was aimed at targeting specific individuals. Defending the legislation, minister Anirudh Singh said the Bill had been introduced after obtaining legal opinion and argued that a daughter-in-law, being an integral part of the household should also be covered by the rules.HTC...