Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has raised serious concerns over the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, and urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take steps to safeguard Odisha’s political representation.
In a three-page letter addressed to Majhi, the former Chief Minister cautioned that while Odisha’s Lok Sabha seats may increase in absolute terms, its proportional share in the lower house is set to decline, potentially weakening the state’s national voice.
While Odisha’s representation may technically rise from 21 to 29 MPs, its proportion in the House would decrease from 3.9% to 3.4%. This shift would reduce the state’s political voice by as much as 15%, making Odisha one of the largest losers in the proposed exercise, he claimed.
Naveen, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Odisha Assembly, emphasised that any reduction in political rights would undermine the aspirations of the state and its people.
Describing the issue as critical to Odisha’s future, the BJD chief sought a special session of the state Assembly within 48 hours to adopt a resolution protecting the state’s political rights.
Naveen also stressed the need for a united stand, assuring full support from the BJD.
The development comes ahead of a special Parliament session where key bills, including the delimitation proposal and women’s reservation, are slated for discussion. Naveen Patnaik has placed Odisha’s concerns at the centre of a broader national debate.
