Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has urged married couples to have children “immediately but not too many.” The statement was made in the context of the state’s family planning success and its potential impact on the upcoming delimitation process. Addressing at a mass wedding event in Chennai, Udhayanidhi expressed concerns that despite its effective implementation of population control measures, could lose parliamentary representation due to the delimitation exercise.
Delimitation Concerns
During the event, Udhayanidhi highlighted that Tamil Nadu currently has 39 Members of Parliament (MPs), but this number could drop to 31 after delimitation, reported NDTV. It was pointed out that the state’s population is around 7 crore, while northern states, with higher population growth, are expected to gain over 100 seats.
However, it has been assured previously by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the delimitation process would not result in a reduction of seats for southern states, including Tamil Nadu. Despite this, concerns remain among southern leaders regarding a potential loss of political representation.
Call For Balanced Family Planning
Further, Udhayanidhi urged couples to have children soon, but not in excessive numbers, as per a report on India Today. The issue was linked to the state’s future political representation and the importance of preserving Tamil identity was emphasised by suggesting that children should be given Tamil names.
Udhayanidhi expressed confidence that the DMK-led alliance would secure over 200 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, he stressed that though Tamil Nadu had implemented birth control measures early and it was now facing issues due to delimitation.
Stalin, Chandrababu Naidu Advocate For More Children
The Chief Minister while attending a wedding ceremony on March 3 remarked that in the past, people were advised to take time before having children, but that luxury no longer exists, as per reports.
Even leaders from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the NDA, have urged the people of Andhra Pradesh to have more children. In Vizianagaram, MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu announced that Rs 50,000 or a cow would be provided to women giving birth to a third child.
