MK Stalin's opinion on delimitation, Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha share

Chennai:

“There is a feeling… why not have 16 children (because we) lose Lok Sabha seats” – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's eyebrow-raising 'solution' on Monday over the possibility of his state being separated from that many children This will have to happen – and hence will become less important for any party seeking to form the central government – ​​after delimitation in 2026, that is, redrawing of parliamentary constituencies based on revised population levels.

Presiding over the state-funded Hindu wedding ceremony of 31 couples, the DMK leader said his state has a tradition of family elders blessing married couples with “16 types of property”; Translated from Tamil, the blessing reads, “Acquire 16 types of wealth and live a prosperous life)”.

“That blessing doesn't mean you have to have 16 children… but now a situation has arisen where people think they have to raise literally 16 children, rather than having a small and prosperous family.”

On one hand (and in remarks seen as another jab at the BJP in power at the Centre), Mr Stalin called on Tamil couples to give their children “beautiful Tamil names”.

Read | “Imposing Hindi everywhere”: MK Stalin vs Governor in anthem row

The Chief Minister's comments regarding Tamil names for Tamil babies come amid another state-centre row over the language dispute; Last week, Mr Stalin fired tough questions at Governor RN Ravi, the Centre's representative in the state, for trying to “impose Hindi everywhere”.

delimitation line

Over the past several months, Tamil Nadu and other southern states have expressed concerns over the delimitation process, which will now see the number of seats increase from 543 to 753.

The largest increase will be in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state; The number of Lok Sabha seats will increase from 80 to 126 – an increase of 57.5 percent. Among the southern states, only Karnataka saw a measurable increase in representation in the lower house – from 28 seats to 36.

Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha share is likely to increase by only an inch – from 39 to 41, an increase of five per cent, and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may be given only three additional seats.

NewBharat TV explains. How will India look after 2026 delimitation?

And Kerala – the state that has best controlled population growth, a key factor as the country and the world grapple with climate change, unemployment and resource depletion – may lose one of its 20 seats.

State wise possible revised Lok Sabha seats after delimitation.

However, if the Central government decides to keep the total strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 and instead, redistributes the available seats, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will lose eight each. UP and Bihar will gain 11 and 10 respectively.

Either way, the opposition is sharply critical about the marked disparity between the potential revised Lok Sabha representation for the northern states – all of which except Karnataka largely voted for the BJP in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections – And for those in the south.

And Mr. Stalin's government has been most vocal in this regard.

Tamil Nadu's anti-delimitation move

In February Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK adopted a resolution against the proposed delimitation, arguing that states that have best controlled population levels should not be penalized.

Read | Delimitation process in Tamil Nadu Assembly a challenge

In contrast, the DMK said, states that have failed to do so should not be rewarded.

Chandrababu Naidu's comment

Mr Stalin's comments – in jest, yes, but with a certain edge – came soon after his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu also 'advised' people to have more children.

However, Mr Naidu's comments were in the context of the state's growing population.

He warned that the disproportionate number of elderly people could strain state finances and offered Japan as an example. “In many villages, only elderly people are left… because the youth have gone to cities or abroad,” he said, adding that his government will pass a law in this regard.

Center says…

Sources had told NewBharat TV in September last year that the Narendra Modi government would consider the fact that southern states have, on average, controlled population growth better than the North. Sources said this will allay fears that southern states will be penalized as their Lok Sabha seats are affected.

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