Bhubaneswar, April 19: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday rejected claims that Odisha’s political representation would decline under a proposed delimitation exercise, accusing BJD president Naveen Patnaik of “spreading falsehood” and creating confusion among the public.
The senior BJP leader’s remarks came in response to Patnaik’s statement that Odisha’s share in Parliament could drop if the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. Pradhan asserted that, on the contrary, the state’s representation would see a marginal increase—from 3.87 per cent to 3.91 per cent—if delimitation is carried out.
He further said the number of Lok Sabha seats from Odisha is projected to rise from the existing 21 to 32, strengthening the state’s voice at the national level. Referring to discussions in Parliament, Pradhan cited Union home minister Amit Shah as having indicated an overall increase in representation for states. He also linked the development to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, under which enhanced representation would translate into greater opportunities for women, including from Odisha.
Pradhan emphasised that any expansion in seats would bolster Odisha’s role in national decision-making and urged political leaders to rely on “fact-based discourse” rather than “misleading narratives.”
Responding, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty accused Pradhan of misrepresenting facts and said legislative assurances must be reflected explicitly in the bill. He argued that verbal statements made during parliamentary debates cannot substitute for written provisions, and questioned why the proposed increase in Odisha’s Lok Sabha seats was not specified in the legislation. Mohanty maintained that due parliamentary process must be followed and cautioned against drawing conclusions without concrete legal backing.
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