Odisha Faces 0.5% Lok Sabha Share Loss, Says Naveen Patnaik; Appeals All MPs to Unite Against 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill

Bhubaneswar: In a strong bipartisan appeal, former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has urged all Members of Parliament from the state, regardless of party affiliation, to collectively oppose the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill. Patnaik warned that the proposed legislation, which links women’s reservation to a future delimitation process, threatens to undermine Odisha’s dignity, representation, and long-term interests both inside and outside Parliament.

Patnaik highlighted that if the Bill is implemented, Odisha’s share in the Lok Sabha would shrink from 3.9% to 3.4%, making the state one of the top six losers in terms of parliamentary representation. “A 0.5% share loss is a huge loss given our minuscule 3.9% representation today,” he stated, adding that a relative reduction in Odisha’s voice in the lower house would severely weaken the state’s ability to advocate for critical, state-specific needs such as disaster management, tribal welfare, and regional development. He described the issue as not merely political but one that strikes at the heart of the federal spirit enshrined in the Constitution.

While reiterating the BJD’s wholehearted support for women’s empowerment and the principle of reserving seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies citing his father Late Biju Patnaik’s pioneering role in reserving seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, Naveen Patnaik expressed serious concerns over the Bill’s linkage between women’s reservation and the delimitation process expected after the next Census. According to him, this linkage would penalize states like Odisha that have made significant strides in population control and human development. A disproportionate increase in Lok Sabha seats in more populous states, he argued, could skew the allocation of central resources, fiscal transfers, and infrastructure investments. “Odisha has been a large contributor to the revenue of the Government and yet has always received discriminatory treatment, including the denial of a special status,” Patnaik said.

The BJD chief further warned that for the people of Odisha, representation in Parliament is not just about numbers, it is about identity, pride, and the assurance that the state’s 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,” he added. Asserting that the Bill “steals the political representation future of the people of Odisha,” Patnaik appealed to all MPs to act immediately, reminding them that they were elected to protect the state’s economic and political future. He concluded with a firm warning that the BJD is prepared to take the matter directly to the people of Odisha if the state’s legitimate concerns and demands are trampled by the majority voice of other states.