Title: Why Is CM MK Stalin Urging People to Have Babies Immediately?
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin voiced strong opposition to the central government’s delimitation plans on Monday, urging the residents of the state to have children immediately. He argued that the state’s successful family planning measures, which have been effective over the years, have now put it at a disadvantage in the context of population-based delimitation.
The Chief Minister’s appeal comes in the midst of a broader political debate over the Centre’s delimitation exercise and the National Education Policy (NEP). Stalin has warned that population-based delimitation could adversely affect Tamil Nadu’s political representation in the future. He urged residents, particularly newlywed couples, to heed his appeal and plan their families immediately so that the state could secure a better position when the delimitation exercise takes place.
What Does MK Stalin Say?
Stalin’s remarks were made during a wedding function of a DMK district secretary in Nagapattinam. He explained, “Earlier, we used to say, ‘take your time and have a baby.’ But now the situation has changed, and we should say it now.” He then went on to criticise the Union Government’s upcoming delimitation policies.
Stalin said, “Now, with policies such as delimitation that the Union Government is planning to implement, we cannot say that. We focused on family planning and succeeded, and we’ve been pushed into a situation like this. So, I would now urge newlyweds to immediately have babies and give them good Tamil names.”
Stalin’s Opposition to the Delimitation Exercise
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of opposing the Centre’s delimitation exercise. Stalin has expressed concerns that the delimitation exercise, which is expected to be conducted after 2026, will put southern states, including Tamil Nadu, at a disadvantage.
He contended that these states, which have effectively implemented family planning measures, may be penalised when delimitation is carried out based on demographic changes. Stalin warned that this could result in southern states having a lesser say in Parliament, despite their significant contribution to the country’s GDP and successful efforts in population control for the country’s welfare.
BJP’s Counter Arguments
In response to Stalin’s remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson CR Keshavan has accused the DMK of engaging in “desperate and dishonest diversionary drama.” He further questioned the DMK’s stance by pointing out that the party had not criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s call for “Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq” (rights proportionate to population), which he argued contradicted the DMK’s position. Keshavan suggested that the DMK was trying to divert attention away from its “gross mismanagement, misrule, and misgovernance.”
What is Delimitation?
Delimitation refers to the process of fixing the boundaries and limits of electoral constituencies in a country or a province, ensuring proper representation in a legislative body, such as the Parliament or Assembly. It involves redrawing the boundaries of the parliamentary and assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population.
Delimitation Commission of India
In India, delimitation is undertaken by the Delimitation Commission, a high-powered body established under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act. This body is tasked with redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha (House of the People) and State Legislative Assembly constituencies, ensuring that each constituency has roughly an equal number of people.
In India, Delimitation commissions have been set up four times in the past, that is in the years 1953, 1962, 1972 and 2002 under Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
Stalin criticises Centre for “Imposing” Hindi
Furthermore, Stalin also criticised the Centre’s attempts to impose Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), while appealing to the state BJP not to boycott an all-party meeting called to discuss the delimitation issue.
“I have convened an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss our stand on delimitation. Forty registered political parties have been invited, and the majority have agreed to attend. A few may skip it, but they should understand that this is not just a DMK issue; it is a problem for the entire state,” Stalin stated. “So I urge everyone to stand together for the welfare and rights of Tamil Nadu.”
