Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday stated that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has consistently championed women’s empowerment. He slammed the BJP-led government for tying the proposed women’s quota bill to the delimitation process, asserting that the BJD remains steadfast in its opposition to any move that would diminish Odisha’s “political power.”
His comments came a day after the Constitutional Amendment Bill regarding the women’s quota, which had been linked to delimitation based on the 2011 census, failed in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Patnaik accused the BJP of “compromising” Odisha’s rights.
“BJD has always stood for women’s empowerment, from the Panchayat level up to Parliament. We are completely against reducing the political power of Odisha through delimitation. The people of Odisha have witnessed as to who has fought for their rights and how the BJP compromised Odisha’s rights,” he said.
The BJD leader added that the public “are indeed shocked that not a single BJP MP from Odisha raised a voice against this injustice.”
“By supporting the reduction of political power for Odisha, the BJP stands exposed before the people of Odisha. BJD will always continue to fight for the rights of Odisha,” he said.
Biju Janata Dal has always stood for women's empowerment, from the Panchayat level up to Parliament. We are completely against reducing the political power of #Odisha through #Delimitation. The people of Odisha have witnessed as to who has fought for their rights and how the BJP… pic.twitter.com/ajPzemOWwT
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 18, 2026
Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill on Friday.
The Lok Sabha had taken up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill for consideration simultaneously.
During the division on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate, 298 members voted in favour, while 230 voted against it.
With Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills.
Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra had reiterated his party’s support for the Women’s Reservation Bill on April 16, while simultaneously expressing deep concerns regarding its linkage to the Delimitation Bill.
Patra noted that the BJD chief had previously written to Odisha MPs, reminding them of how he and Biju Patnaik had championed women’s reservation within the state’s Panchayati Raj institutions.
“He raised concerns about the delimitation bill being linked with the Women’s Reservation Bill. The BJD has always supported the Women’s Reservation Bill, including in 2023, but warned that the current constitutional amendment, tied to delimitation, is worrying,” Patra stated.
