Naveen Calls on Odisha MPs to Unite Against 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill

Bhubaneswar: BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik wrote to the Members of Parliament from Odisha, urging them to oppose the proposed 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill both inside and outside Parliament, warning that it poses a “gross threat” to the state’s political and economic interests.

In his letter, LoP Naveen appealed to MPs across party lines to safeguard Odisha’s long-term interests, dignity, and equitable representation. He cautioned that the proposed legislation could significantly undermine the state’s voice at the national level if passed in its current form.

While reiterating his strong support for women’s empowerment and reservation in legislatures, Naveen highlighted that the Biju Janata Dal had fully backed the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). He noted that both he and his father, Biju Patnaik, had been longstanding advocates of women’s representation. However, he expressed concern that the current Bill goes beyond its stated objective and could have unintended consequences.

The BJD President emphasized that the essence of Indian federalism lies in balanced representation among states. He warned that any delimitation exercise linked to the Bill could reduce Odisha’s share in the Lok Sabha from 3.9% to 3.4%, placing it among the states with the highest proportional loss. A 0.5% reduction is significant given our already limited representation, he stated.

He further argued that such a reduction would weaken Odisha’s ability to advocate for critical issues like disaster management, tribal welfare, and regional development.

“This is not merely a political issue—it is about preserving the federal spirit enshrined in our Constitution. The Bill if implemented, will reduce Odisha’s share in Lok Sabha from 3.9 to 3.4% making us amongst the top 6 states losing their share. A .5% share loss is a huge loss given our minuscule 3.9% representation today”, he said.

Raising concerns over the linkage between women’s reservation and the post-Census delimitation process, he said states like Odisha, which have made progress in population control and human development, risk being penalized. He warned that a disproportionate increase in seats for more populous states could skew resource allocation, policy focus, and infrastructure investments at the national level.

“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”, he added.

Calling for unity, Naveen urged MPs to seek safeguards or consider decoupling women’s reservation from delimitation. He stressed that the Amendment should only be supported if Odisha’s share of representation remains protected.

The BJD President also stated that the party is prepared to take the issue to the people if its concerns are ignored, underscoring the seriousness of the matter for the state’s future.