In a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has called for an urgent special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly within the next 48 hours to debate the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise and pass a resolution safeguarding the state’s political future.
The flashpoint is the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats ahead of implementing the long-pending 33% women’s reservation. While Odisha’s numerical representation is projected to rise from the current 21 seats to 29, its proportional share in the national legislature would drop sharply from 3.9% to 3.4% — a relative decline of nearly 15%. Patnaik described this as a “grave injustice” to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, who have been national frontrunners in population control and human development.
In the letter, the former Chief Minister argued that the bill strikes at the heart of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution. “We will welcome the Delimitation Bill only if Odisha’s political rights remain intact,” he wrote. “This is not just an issue of numbers. It is a question of the aspirations of every Odia.” He warned that remaining silent would amount to an “historic betrayal” that future generations would never forgive.
Patnaik reminded the Chief Minister of Odisha’s rich legacy as the country’s first language-based state, formed on April 1, 1936, after decades of struggle. He invoked the sacrifices of Paika Rebellion hero Buxi Jagabandhu in 1817, freedom fighters like Veer Surendra Sai and Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das during the Quit India Movement, and the courage of the nation’s youngest martyr, Baji Rout. He also highlighted the spiritual and cultural bedrock of Odisha — the land of Lord Jagannath — whose philosophy of equality, brotherhood, and compassion forms the moral foundation of Indian democracy.
“Odisha is not merely a geographical entity; it is the living faith of 4.5 crore Odias,” Patnaik emphasised. He urged Majhi to exercise his moral and constitutional authority immediately and ensure that “not even 0.001% of Odisha’s political rights are allowed to be taken away.”
In a gesture of bipartisanship, the BJD chief made it clear that his party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the state government on this issue. “As a true Odia, I appeal to you to take this up firmly. Biju Janata Dal will extend full support to every effort to protect the interests of Odisha and its people,” he assured.
On a separate but related note, Patnaik reiterated BJD’s longstanding commitment to women’s empowerment. Recalling Biju Patnaik’s pioneering role in women’s development, he confirmed that the party will extend “full support” to the Women’s Reservation Bill, having already implemented 50% reservation for women in panchayati raj institutions long before it became a national agenda.
Political observers see Patnaik’s move as a strategic blend of assertive regionalism and constructive opposition. With Parliament set to discuss the bills in a special session starting tomorrow, the ball is now firmly in the state government’s court. Whether Majhi heeds the 48-hour call could define the political narrative in Odisha for months to come — and send a powerful signal about how the state intends to guard its hard-earned place in the national arena.
