Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan again criticised BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Sunday for his statement on the recently defeated Constitution Amendment Bill, accusing him of spreading “baseless and ridiculous” claims that create confusion among the people of Odisha.
In a strongly worded response shared on social media X, Dharmendra expressed surprise at Naveen’s remarks and defended the Centre’s position on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (women’s reservation law) and the associated delimitation exercise. “How could a person like you make such a statement that is creating confusion in the minds of the people of Odisha? The things you have said seem baseless and ridiculous,” he stated.
Referring to the statement of Home Minister Amit Shah during the debate on the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, the Union Minister noted that representation of all states, including Odisha, would increase by about 50%. “The number of Lok Sabha seats in Odisha will increase from 21 to 32, providing an opportunity for at least 11 women to represent the state as new MPs,” he stressed.
Dharmendra further stated that Odisha’s share of Lok Sabha seats would increase from 3.87% to 3.91%, thereby strengthening the state’s voice at the national level. “We expect fact-based information from people like you. I believe that if you reveal the truth based on facts instead of spreading falsehoods, the true interests of Odisha will be served,” he added.
Naveen’s comments came a day earlier on April 18, in response to BJP allegations that the BJD was “anti-women” for opposing the linkage of the women’s reservation bill with the delimitation proposal. The Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing women’s reservation in legislatures from 2029 and increasing Lok Sabha seats was defeated in the Lower House on Friday, with 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the required two-thirds majority.
The BJD supremo asserted that his party has consistently championed women’s empowerment from the panchayat level to Parliament, but firmly opposed the delimitation bill, which he claimed would reduce Odisha’s political representation. “The BJD has always stood for women’s empowerment… However, we are completely against reducing the political power of Odisha through delimitation. The people of Odisha have witnessed as to who has fought for their rights and how the BJP compromised Odisha’s rights,” he said
He alleged that not a single BJP MP from Odisha raised concerns over the bill, which he claimed would reduce the state’s representation in Parliament from 3.9% to 3.4%. “By supporting the reduction of political power for Odisha, the BJP stands exposed before the people of the state,” he added, noting that people were “shocked” at the silence of BJP MPs.
Naveen had earlier urged all Odisha MPs, including the 20 BJP Lok Sabha members from the state, and also Chief Minister Mohan Majhi to oppose the proposal, which he warned if passed in its current form, could erode the state’s political representation and long-term economic interests.
