BJD President Naveen Patnaik appealed to Odisha’s Members of Parliament on Thursday, calling for a unified front to protect the state’s political and economic interests against perceived “threats” from the Delimitation Bill.
While reaffirming his party’s unwavering support for women’s reservation, Patnaik urged the MPs across party lines to oppose the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in its current form, arguing it could significantly marginalize the state’s national influence.
In a letter to MPs from the state, Patnaik wrote, “The current 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, as proposed, raises serious concerns that go beyond its stated objective.”
The former Chief Minister’s outreach follows his recent letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking a special Assembly session to pass a resolution protecting the state’s interests.
Supporting the stance, Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam also wrote a letter to the CM for a special session to safeguard Odisha’s political rights.
However, the BJP has dismissed these concerns as a tactic to create confusion, with State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan accusing Patnaik of indirectly sabotaging the women’s reservation bill.
State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, “Creating confusion does not suit the stature of a five-time CM. The BJD president is indirectly opposing the women’s reservation bill by raising the issue of delimitation.”
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said Patnaik has reiterated the statement of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Patnaik, clarifying his party’s position, stated the BJD “wholeheartedly supports the principle of women’s empowerment and greater representation of women in legislative bodies”.
In a post shared from his X account, Patnaik said, “@bjd_odisha wholeheartedly supports the principle of women’s empowerment and greater representation of women in legislative bodies. The idea of reserving seats for women in Parliament and the State Assemblies is both progressive and necessary. I have been a personal champion of it, as has been my father Late Biju Patnaik.”
“He pioneered the reservation for women in Panchayat Raj Institutions, and I took it forward further with your support. The Biju Janata Dal whole-heartedly supported the 106th Constitution Amendment Bill in 2023 with regard to Women’s reservation (the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). However, the current 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, as proposed, raises serious concerns that go beyond its stated objective,” the BJD supremo said.
BJD spokespersons Lenin Mohanty and Mihir Ray further defended the party’s stance, questioning the silence of BJP ministers regarding the potential dilution of Odisha’s voice in the Lok Sabha.
Apart from BJD’s six Rajya Sabha MPs, the letter was dispatched to a total of 31 representatives, including 23 BJP MPs, one Congress member, and an Independent, urging them to act as “fellow Odias” rather than partisan actors.
“I write to you not only as the president of the BJD, but as a fellow Odia deeply committed to safeguarding the long-term interests, dignity, and equitable representation of our beloved state, Odisha. The same is seriously likely to be undermined if the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill is passed by Parliament,” Patnaik noted in the letter.
“I urge you – irrespective of party affiliation – to carefully consider the broader implications of this (131) Amendment. It is imperative that we seek clarity, safeguards, and, if necessary, a decoupling of women’s reservation from the delimitation process,” Patnaik said.
The former Chief Minister, in the three-page letter, urged lawmakers to champion the cause both inside and outside the halls of Parliament. He stressed that it is a collective duty to ensure that Odisha’s proportional share in the Lok Sabha is not compromised, arguing that representation is a matter of identity and pride rather than just a statistical allocation.
Providing a detailed breakdown, Patnaik noted that while Odisha’s seat count might increase from 21 to 29 in a larger 850-member House, its proportional share would drop from 3.9 per cent to 3.4 per cent. He described the nearly 15 per cent relative decline as a “huge” loss that effectively “steals the political representation future of the people of Odisha,” a shift he insisted must not happen under the current leadership’s watch.
“It steals the political representation future of people of Odisha. We cannot let it happen under our watch when people of Odisha have voted for you to protect their economic and political future through the Parliament,” the former chief minister said.
He further argued that any reduction in presence within the national discourse could lead to a sense of “degradation” among the citizenry.
“Any move that diminishes our presence in the national discourse can create a sense of degradation among people. We must ensure that progress for one section does not come at the cost of another’s voice. This is precisely what the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill is likely to deliver,” he noted.
Patnaik emphasized that national progress for one group—women—should not be achieved by silencing the regional voices of states that have successfully managed their demographic growth.
Appeal all MPs of #Odisha, irrespective of party affiliation, to raise your voice both inside and outside the Parliament against the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill as it could undermine Odisha’s dignity, representation, and long-term interests. Let us stand united in… pic.twitter.com/R3kp90YzgQ
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 16, 2026
He clarified that the linkage between women’s reservation and the delimitation process, which is expected to follow the next Census, has far-reaching implications.
“States like Odisha, which have made significant strides in population control and human development, are being penalised. A disproportionate increase in Lok Sabha seats in more populous states could skew the allocation of central resources and policy attention. This may adversely impact Odisha’s share in national development priorities, fiscal transfers, and infrastructure investments,” Patnaik said, calling for unity among lawmakers from the state.
