More children, more MPs: Stalin’s U-turn on population control amid delimitation row

“It is because a situation has now arisen, according to which only a higher population would ensure more MPs as the delimitation exercise would be on the basis of population, Stalin said. Tamil Nadu paid attention to population control and succeeded and that was the reason for the state’s plight today,” he added as per news agency PTI.

“I will not tell you to not have children hastily, have children immediately; but give them beautiful Tamil names,” he said, directly appealing to the bride and bridegroom.

Why did Stalin make such remarks?

Stalin’s fear likely stems from the reason that the upcoming delimitation exercise based purely on population will reduce the South’s representation in the Parliament compared to the North.

In a rebuke, Stalin said that the state will not accept a process that he believes would unfairly disadvantage southern states. Stalin reiterated his stance in a video statement, “Our demand is clear — don’t determine parliamentary constituencies based on population alone. Do not penalise the Southern states that took responsible measures to control population growth.”

He also addressed the implementation of the three-language policy, calling it yet another attempt to underrepresent the South.

Against this backdrop, an all-party meeting has been scheduled for March 5 to discuss the proposed delimitation exercise. Out of 40 parties, most have confirmed their participation, while a few have declined. Appealing to these parties, the Chief Minister urged them not to view the issue through a political lens.

The BJP and former Union Minister G K Vasan-led TMC (Moopanar) are among the key parties that have decided not to attend the meeting. “I would like to appeal to them, please reconsider. This is not an issue between the DMK and your party,” Stalin said. “This concerns Tamil Nadu, its interests, and its rights and hence parties that have declared that they would not take part should also participate.”

What is delimitation?

Delimitation is a Constitutional mandate, to be carried out after every Census in order to readjust the number of seats in Parliament, and the boundaries of constituencies, based on latest population data. This is to ensure that each constituency has roughly the same number of people living in it.

Up until 1976, after every Indian Census, the seats of both houses of Parliament and State legislative Assemblies were re-distributed throughout the country. This happened thrice, based on the Censuses of 1951, 1961, and 1971.