Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday came down heavily on BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, accusing him of spreading panic through misleading claims about the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which is linked to the implementation of women’s reservation and the upcoming delimitation exercise.
This followed Naveen’s recent letters — including one to all Odisha MPs on April 16 and another to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on April 15 — in which he had warned that the bill, if passed in its current form, could erode the state’s political representation and long-term economic interests. The BJD supremo, while reiterating support for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act), had demanded either safeguards or a decoupling of the 33% women’s quota from the delimitation process based on the next Census. He specifically flagged data suggesting Odisha’s share of Lok Sabha seats would drop from 3.9% to 3.4%, even as absolute numbers might rise from 21 to 29 MPs.
In a strongly worded post on X, Dharmendra described Naveen’s concerns as nothing more than an attempt to create fear. “Naveen Babu, the anxiety you expressed yesterday in your letter to the state’s MPs regarding the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill seems designed only to generate panic. Such a reaction does not befit an experienced politician like you,” he wrote.
He dismissed Naveen’s assertion that the bill would harm Odisha’s political and economic interests as “completely misleading”. “It is only proper to place faith in India’s Constitution and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The Home Minister has clearly assured Parliament that no state’s rights will be curtailed.”
The Union Minister refuted the figures cited by the former CM in his latest letter. “There is no truth whatsoever in the claim that after the new delimitation process, Odisha’s representation in the Lok Sabha will fall from 3.9% to 3.4%. Odisha’s representation is certain to increase; the question of any reduction does not arise,” they asserted.
“It is not appropriate to frighten the people of the state by peddling such false and confusing data. Everything will become clear in due course — all that is required is patience,” he added.
Acknowledging Naveen and the BJD’s support for Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as “welcome”, he urged for backing from all quarters. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Odisha has always been given top priority. This amendment bill is not just for Odisha, but rather a historic step toward empowering women across the entire nation of India.”
Dharmendra called on all parties not to turn the issue into a political controversy. “While upholding the dignity of the Constitution, we should all give priority to the country’s interest over narrow political gains,” he noted.
