Bhubaneswar, April 15 (NationPress) Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and president of the Biju Janata Dal, reached out to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday, voicing significant apprehensions regarding the proposed Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 202, commonly referred to as the Delimitation Bill. He argues that if enacted, this legislation would diminish the political representation of Odisha.

In his correspondence with the Chief Minister, Patnaik emphasized that Odisha, a state rich in heritage and culture and a rising beacon of modern development, stands at a pivotal moment. He asserted that the proposed Bill could lead to a proportional decrease in the state’s presence in the Lower House of Parliament.

“The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, known as the Delimitation Bill, aims to modify the composition of the Lok Sabha, expanding its total number of members from 543 to 850. Presently, Odisha has 21 Members of Parliament, representing approximately 3.9% of the total. Should the amendment be approved, while Odisha's allotment would increase to 29 MPs, its proportional representation would drop to 3.4%,” Patnaik pointed out.

He further indicated that Odisha, which has been a leader in managing population growth and developing human resources, could incur a potential 15% reduction in its political representation on a national scale if the bill is passed.

“Our political influence will be redistributed, undermining the voice of 4.5 crore Odias. Reports indicate that Odisha could be the fourth-largest loser in this process. This represents a significant setback to the ambitions of our citizens and a profound injustice to future generations,” he elaborated.

In his letter, the BJD leader reiterated that the party would only support the Delimitation Bill if it safeguards the political rights of Odisha.

Patnaik argued that delimitation transcends mere numerical adjustments; it fundamentally challenges the essence of cooperative federalism enshrined in our Constitution. He cautioned that any reduction in political representation would jeopardize the aspirations of Odisha and its populace.

“I urge you, as the Chief Minister of Odisha, to vigorously pursue this matter. You possess both the moral and legitimate authority to advocate for our state. Future generations will not forgive us if we allow Odisha to be relegated to a politically insignificant status,” asserted Patnaik.

Moreover, he called upon CM Majhi to organize a special session of the Odisha Assembly and endorse a resolution within the next 48 hours, emphasizing that even a fraction of Odisha's political rights should not be compromised.

“Given the urgency of this situation, I request that a special Assembly session be convened within 48 hours to adopt a resolution ensuring that not even 0.001% of Odisha’s political rights is surrendered to other states. As an Odia, I implore you to tackle this issue decisively. The BJD stands with you, as this matter concerns the destiny of our beloved State and our homeland, Odisha,” concluded Patnaik.

Additionally, the BJD leader praised the Women's Reservation Bill, highlighting that Odisha has implemented a 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and actively supports national initiatives for women's empowerment.