'Reduced representation in Parliament’: Naidu pitches for population growth policy citing delimitation

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. (File photo)

Citing concerns that South India’s low birth rate could affect its representation in Parliament, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said his government would soon launch a policy to encourage people to have more children.

“We will launch a robust policy on population growth soon. Population is our strongest economic resource. The world is increasingly reliant on countries with large populations,” he said at the Amaravati Summit on World Population Day, according to a report by the Indian Express.

He further raised concerns that South India’s low birth rate could affect its future representation in Parliament. He said that the fertility rate in the state must be increased to avoid a human resource crisis in the future.

“To avoid a human resource crisis in the future, the fertility rate in the state must rise. Joint families are disappearing. There’s growing concern about the declining population in South India. While Parliament seats may increase in the future, southern states could see reduced representation," he added as reported by the news outlet.

Naidu said that while in the past the state government had launched a movement for population control in the state, the need now is population management. He said India’s ability to compete with developed nations is because of its population.

He added, “To avoid a human resource crisis in the future, the fertility rate in the state must rise. Joint families are disappearing. There’s growing concern about the declining population in South India. While Parliament seats may increase in the future, southern states could see reduced representation.”

This is not the first time the TDP leader and NDA ally has spoken about the proposed population growth policy. In October 2024, he had warned against the effects of Andhra’s ageing population and said his government was contemplating legislation to incentivise families to have more children.