Confident in PM's wisdom on delimitation: Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he is confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the concern of the southern States that any delimitation based only on population would reduce their representation in Parliament. Mr. Naidu's Telugu Desam Party is a key constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP at the Centre.
'I am 100% confident in the Prime Minister's wisdom. He will work with everybody and then take forward [the delimitation exercise],' he said.
Also read | Gains, losses, and politics in Andhra Pradesh
Mr. Naidu spoke to The Hindu at his private residence in the city on a wide range of issues as he completes the first year of his third term as Chief Minister that started on June 12, 2024. Mr. Naidu had played a critical role in 2001, in the consensus Constitutional amendment to delay the inter-State redistribution of parliamentary representation for 25 years, until 2026. The NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power then and Mr. Naidu was a key partner then too.
'That time also... because of the sentiment [of the Southern States] it was done… That time, we thought, in south India, we were able to control population… that is good. Now north India will control population. Today, we have realised population is an asset, not liability. So north India has more population. They have done a good job…' Mr. Naidu said, explaining the 2001 decision and the present situation. '…we have to keep our sentiment intact. [Regarding] delimitation, appropriate policy will come. They will work it out. That was our concept at that time also [in 2001]. This time also it will happen,' he said. Asked whether the present NDA government was as sensitive as the Vajpayee government in this regard, Mr. Naidu said: '...100%. They will do that. The Prime Minister is very clear that he wants to keep national interest… as most important.…'
Mr. Naidu said he had discussed the demographic changes 'broadly' in meetings at NITI Aayog, but did not have an opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister on the issue. 'No, not yet. The time has not yet come [to talk to Mr. Modi]. At an appropriate time [I will talk],' he said, in response to a question.
As per the Constitutional amendment in 2001, the next inter-State delimitation shall take place after the first Census after 2026. With the Centre announcing that a fresh Census will conclude by early 2027, southern States have reiterated their demand for 'fair delimitation.' Asked what he thought of the demand by his counterparts in the other four southern States, Mr. Naidu said: '…Issue has not yet come. The demand is being made too early…At the appropriate time [it should be discussed]. When they [the Centre] come with a policy, and if there is any problem for south India, we can talk. Without having anything, if you raise it, it is only political slogan.'
Mr. Naidu repeated his call for faster population growth where it has slowed down. 'South India has to go for demographic management. Population is reducing here, older population is increasing... Migrations will happen. Now, we have to promote population growth in a big way… Very difficult task...' he said. Asked whether he was considering any incentive for having more children, the Chief Minister said such experiments have not been successful in any part of the world. 'South India had advanced thinking, for population management and also economic progress. People are not having children now. So we need [to go in] the reverse way. We have to think here about population management. You have to do,' he said.
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