Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written a strong letter to all Members of Parliament (MPs) from Odisha, warning that the proposed 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill poses a serious threat to the state’s long-term political and economic interests.
In the letter, Patnaik extended greetings for the Odia New Year and clarified that he was writing not just as the president of BJD, but as a concerned Odia deeply committed to protecting the dignity and equitable representation of the state.
He reiterated that the Biju Janata Dal fully supports the principle of women’s empowerment and greater representation of women in legislative bodies. Recalling his father Late Biju Patnaik’s pioneering role in introducing women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions, Patnaik noted that he had taken the initiative forward and that the BJD had wholeheartedly backed the 106th Constitution Amendment Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) in 2023.However, Patnaik expressed serious concerns over the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in its current form.
He stated that the essence of Indian federalism lies in balanced representation, and any delimitation exercise that alters this balance risks marginalising states like Odisha in national decision-making. He pointed out that the bill, if implemented, would reduce Odisha’s share in the Lok Sabha from 3.9% to 3.4%, placing the state among the top six losers in terms of representation. This relative decline, he said, would seriously weaken Odisha’s ability to advocate for its specific needs in areas such as disaster management, tribal welfare, and regional development.
Patnaik further highlighted the emotional and cultural dimensions of the issue. For the people of Odisha, he wrote, representation in Parliament is not merely about numbers but is closely tied to their identity, pride, and the assurance that the state’s unique history, language, and aspirations are heard at the highest levels. He cautioned that any move that diminishes Odisha’s presence in the national discourse could create a sense of degradation among its people.
“For the people of Odisha, representation in Parliament is not just about numbers-it is about identity, pride, and the assurance that our unique history, language, and aspirations are heard at the highest levels. Any move that diminishes our presence in the national discourse can create a sense of degradation among our 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”, read his letter.
On the economic front, Patnaik argued that linking women’s reservation with the delimitation process — which will follow the next Census — would have far-reaching consequences. He noted that states like Odisha, which have made significant progress in population control and human development, would be unfairly penalised. A disproportionate increase in seats for more populous states could skew the allocation of central resources, fiscal transfers, and infrastructure investments, adversely affecting Odisha’s development priorities.
In light of these concerns, Patnaik urged all Odisha MPs, irrespective of their party affiliation, to carefully examine the broader implications of the bill. He appealed to them to seek necessary safeguards and, if required, push for decoupling women’s reservation from the delimitation exercise. He stressed that the bill should only be supported if Odisha’s share of representation is in no way reduced or compromised.
Patnaik warned that the Biju Janata Dal is prepared to take the issue directly to the people of Odisha if the state’s legitimate concerns are ignored by the majority voice of other states.
