Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to strongly oppose the proposed delimitation exercise, warning that it could significantly reduce Odisha’s political representation at the national level.
In a letter dated April 15, Patnaik highlighted Odisha’s historical legacy, recalling that the state was formed on April 1, 1936, as the first linguistic province in India after prolonged struggles by Odia leaders and people. He underscored Odisha’s contributions to the freedom movement, citing figures such as Buxi Jagabandhu, Veer Surendra Sai, Gopabandhu Das, and child martyr Baji Rout, while also emphasizing the unifying influence of Jagannath culture in shaping India’s inclusive ethos.
Raising concerns over the proposed Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 members, Patnaik argued that Odisha’s share in Parliament would proportionally decline despite an increase in absolute seats. He noted that the state currently holds 21 Lok Sabha seats (3.9%), which may rise to 29 under the new proposal, but its share would drop to around 3.4%, amounting to what he termed a “15 per cent loss” in political representation.
Patnaik contended that Odisha, which has performed well in population control and human development, would be unfairly penalised, with its political influence redistributed to other states. He warned that the state could emerge as one of the biggest losers in the delimitation exercise, calling it a “grave injustice” to the aspirations of 4.5 crore Odias.
The BJD president, however, reiterated support for the Women’s Reservation Bill, recalling the legacy of Biju Patnaik in championing women’s empowerment and noting that Odisha has already implemented 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Calling the issue one that strikes at the core of cooperative federalism, Patnaik urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with urgency and assert Odisha’s rights. He demanded that a special session of the Assembly be convened within 48 hours to pass a resolution ensuring that even a marginal reduction in the state’s political representation is not accepted.
Stating that the Biju Janata Dal would extend full support on the issue, Patnaik appealed for a united stand, warning that future generations would not forgive inaction if Odisha’s political voice is diminished.
