Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, March 3: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday advocated for young couples to have children immediately after marriage, highlighting concerns that a higher population could determine greater political representation in the Lok Sabha delimitation exercise.
Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Nagapattinam, Stalin, also president of the DMK, noted that historically, newly married couples were advised to wait before having children. However, the current scenario has drastically changed.
“Earlier, young couples were advised against having children right after marriage. But today, we should no longer give such advice because higher population numbers will determine how many Members of Parliament (MPs) we secure after the delimitation,” Stalin explained.
Tamil Nadu's success in implementing population control measures has now ironically placed it in a disadvantageous position, Stalin remarked, suggesting that other states with higher populations may secure more political representation. He directly urged the newlyweds, "I won't tell you to delay; have children immediately. But give them beautiful Tamil names."
This isn't the first time Stalin has raised concerns regarding delimitation. On October 21, 2024, he controversially remarked that the upcoming delimitation exercise might make people consider having "16 children," referencing a Tamil proverb symbolizing wealth and abundance.
Delimitation Concerns Prompt All-Party Meeting
Chief Minister Stalin highlighted delimitation as a crucial issue impacting state rights, emphasizing it should not be viewed through a political lens. He alleged that the Union government is using the delimitation process as a means to reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation, similar to how it seeks to enforce the controversial three-language policy.In this context, Stalin announced that an all-party meeting is scheduled for March 5 in Chennai. He urged all political parties to attend and emphasized the non-partisan nature of the issue, stating, "This is not an issue between the DMK and your party. It concerns the rights and interests of Tamil Nadu."
BJP and TMC (Moopanar) Choose to Stay Away
While 40 political parties have been invited, major parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), led by former Union Minister GK Vaasan, have decided against participating. Stalin directly appealed to these parties to reconsider, reinforcing that participation would strengthen Tamil Nadu’s collective voice.Echoes of Andhra Pradesh's Naidu on Population Growth
Tamil Nadu’s concerns mirror similar statements made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu last year, who encouraged citizens to have more children to combat falling birth rates. Naidu had also introduced conditions linking eligibility for political positions to having more than two children, highlighting the declining populations seen in countries like South Korea and Japan.Stalin's comments reflect growing anxiety among southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, about how population-based political representation could reshape their influence on national politics in the years ahead.
