Tamil Nadu offers women Rs 50,000 for birth of third child, and a cow if that child is a boy. The ‘offer’ was made at a public meeting in Mr Appala Naidu’s constituency – Vizianagaram. It comes amid a row between the centre and the southern states, led by Tamil Nadu. The southern states argue they will get fewer seats because they, on average, have controlled population growth better than their northern counterparts. The centre has refused both charges, countering ‘Hindi imposition’ claims by saying the new education policy and the three-language formula does not force any student to study Hindi, and deflecting criticism of delimitation by insisting southern states will not be disadvantaged. The row is likely to be a major poll issue in the next election year, with all major parties likely to vote for the BJP in the general election on May 8, 2014. The result will be the outcome of the next Lok Sabha election, which will be held on May 26, 2015.