Odisha is poised to see an increase in both Assembly constituencies and Lok Sabha seats following the upcoming delimitation exercise, which is anticipated to take place after the 2027 census, said sources.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hinted at the expansion on Monday during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a state-of-the-art Assembly building in Bhubaneswar.
Explaining the necessity of the construction of a new Assembly building, CM Majhi said, “Today, we have 147 MLAs, which could increase after delimitation. I am not sure, but after delimitation, the number of MLAs could be 200. Therefore, we have to construct a new Assembly building keeping in view the next 50/100 years.”
At present, the state legislature comprises 147 members and 21 Lok Sabha seats, in accordance with the 1971 census data, which was based on a population of 2.20 crore.
Official records indicate that after the 1973 delimitation exercise, the state’s Assembly seats grew from 140 to 147, while Lok Sabha seats rose from 20 to 21.
With Odisha’s population having more than doubled since 1971 to an estimated 4.5 crore today, a senior census official suggested that the number of Assembly seats could climb to 197, with Lok Sabha seats potentially reaching 28.
Official records said that delimitation exercises were carried out in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2007-08.
“Though there was no increase in the number of seats in the Assembly and Lok Sabha in Odisha after the 2007-08 delimitation, the geographical boundaries of several assembly segments were changed,” the official said.
The national census, initially slated for 2021 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now set to commence in the state this April.
