Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday called for newlyweds in the state to prioritize childbirth to protect the state’s representation in Parliament. Speaking at a marriage function, he expressed concerns over Tamil Nadu’s declining birth rate and its potential impact on parliamentary seat allocation during the proposed delimitation process.
Udhayanidhi stated, “We will win 200-plus seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2026 elections. I request couples who are getting married to be concerned about childbirth as soon as possible. Our state implemented birth control first, and due to this, we are now facing issues. If delimitation comes, we will lose eight parliamentary constituencies, while northern states will gain more than 100 seats.”
He further emphasized the importance of preserving Tamil identity, urging parents to “keep Tamil names for their children.” His comments come amidst ongoing debates over the impact of delimitation on southern states, with political leaders concerned about the potential shift in representation.
In a related development, Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ponmudi and RS MP MM Abdulla met with Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru to discuss the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies proposed by the BJP government. Ponmudi also invited Shivakumar to participate in a meeting of South Indian state representatives organized by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, set to take place in Chennai on March 22.
Earlier in March, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had also urged couples to “give birth to a child immediately” to secure greater representation for the state in Parliament. This statement was a direct response to the Centre’s proposed delimitation plan, which Stalin believes will result in southern states losing out on representation due to their successful family planning efforts.