Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday urged residents to have children without delay, citing concerns that the state's successful family planning measures have now placed it at a disadvantage. He stressed the urgency of the issue, warning that population-based delimitation could impact Tamil Nadu’s political representation.

Reflecting on the changing demographic scenario, Stalin remarked, "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 linked the matter directly to the prospect of delimitation being implemented based on population figures, acknowledging the unintended consequences of Tamil Nadu’s proactive family planning efforts.

"We implemented family planning successfully, and now we are facing such a situation," he noted.

Impact of delimitation on Tamil Nadu

Stalin reiterated the potential consequences of the state’s declining birth rate, stating, "So I won’t say take your time, but immediately have your baby."

He expressed concern that if delimitation is carried out based on census data, Tamil Nadu could lose significant representation at the national level.

"If delimitation is implemented based on population census, Tamil Nadu will lose eight MPs. This will lead to Tamil Nadu losing representation in Parliament," he had stated.

All-party meeting to address the issue

To tackle the issue, Stalin has called for an all-party meeting on March 5, bringing together 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission. He has described the delimitation concern as a "sword dangling over Tamil Nadu" and stressed the need for collective protest to safeguard the state's political rights.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on February 25, Stalin reinforced his stance, underlining the urgency of the situation. He also appealed to the public to prioritise this issue, stating, "I urge them to attend as well. Please set aside ego. Don’t think why should you listen to my call."

(Agency inputs)