BHUBANESWAR: As the three-day special session of the Parliament went underway on Thursday to consider the Women’s Reservation Bill and Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill for delimitation, BJD president Naveen Patnaik urged all the MPs of the state to support them only if Odisha’s share of representation is in no way reduced or compromised.
In a letter to all the MPs from Odisha, the leader of Opposition in the Assembly called upon them to raise their voice both inside and outside the Parliament and ensure that the state’s rightful place in the Union remains secure and respected.
The former chief minister said 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. A relative reduction in Odisha’s representation in the Lok Sabha would weaken its voice for state-specific needs, from disaster management to tribal welfare and regional development, he said.
Expressing concern over the proposed linkage between women’s reservation and the delimitation process expected after the next Census, he warned that it could have far-reaching implications for states such as Odisha.
A disproportionate increase in Lok Sabha seats in more populous states could skew the allocation of central resources and policy attention, adversely affecting Odisha’s share in national developmental priorities, fiscal transfers and infrastructure investment, he said.
He said, if implemented, the Bill could reduce Odisha’s share in the Lok Sabha from 3.9 per cent to 3.4 per cent, making it one of the top six states losing their representation. “A 0.5 percentage point loss is huge given the state’s already limited 3.9 per cent share. We cannot let it happen under our watch when people of Odisha have voted for you to protect their economic and political future through the Parliament,” he said.
Naveen said Odisha has been a large contributor to the Centre’s revenue, yet has always received discriminatory treatment. He urged the MPs, irrespective of party affiliations, to carefully consider the broader implications of the amendment. “It is imperative that we seek clarity, safeguards and if necessary, a decoupling of women’s reservation from the delimitation process,” he added.
Naveen said 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 aspirations are heard at the highest-level.