"Immediately have babies": CM Stalin urges newlyweds, mocks Centre’s delimitation plan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has criticized the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, suggesting that newlywed couples should plan their families immediately to secure the state’s political representation. Speaking at the wedding of a DMK district secretary in Nagapattinam, Stalin remarked that while he earlier advised couples to take their time before having children, the upcoming delimitation process has changed the scenario. "We focused on family planning and succeeded and were pushed into a situation such as this. So I would now urge newlyweds to immediately have babies and give them good Tamil names," Stalin said.

The delimitation exercise, scheduled after 2026, involves redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population changes. Stalin and the DMK have strongly opposed this move, arguing that states like Tamil Nadu, which successfully implemented population control measures, could lose representation in Parliament. He claimed that Tamil Nadu’s lower population growth compared to northern states might reduce its Lok Sabha seats, despite the state's significant contribution to India’s economy and development.

BJP spokesperson CR Keshavan countered Stalin’s remarks, calling them a "desperate and dishonest diversionary drama." He accused the DMK of trying to shift focus from governance issues and challenged the party to respond to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s "Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq" statement, which advocates rights based on population size. "Does the DMK have the courage to question Rahul Gandhi and seek an explanation on his call?" Keshavan asked.

Stalin also criticized the Centre for allegedly imposing Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP). He reiterated that Tamil Nadu has historically resisted any move that threatens its linguistic and cultural identity. The state government has consistently opposed the three-language policy under the NEP, arguing that it forces Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states.

To address concerns over delimitation, Stalin has convened an all-party meeting on March 5, inviting 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission. He urged all parties, including the BJP, to participate, stating that the issue is beyond political rivalry. "They are trying to implement delimitation that will reduce the number of Lok Sabha seats for Tamil Nadu. This is not a problem of DMK; it is a problem for the entire state," Stalin said.

The DMK has been vocal about its opposition to the delimitation process, warning that states with lower population growth should not be penalized for implementing family planning effectively. The party argues that delimitation should consider economic contribution and development rather than just population numbers.