Bhubaneswar, 16 April (H.S.): Naveen Patnaik has expressed serious concerns over the proposed 131st Constitutional Amendment, warning that it could adversely impact Odisha’s political representation at the national level.

In a letter addressed to all Members of Parliament from Odisha on Thursday, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition highlighted the issue of delimitation, stating that the proposed changes could weaken the state’s voice in national decision-making.

Patnaik cautioned that Odisha’s share in parliamentary representation could decline from 3.9% to 3.4% if the amendment is implemented. He noted that such a reduction would significantly affect the state’s ability to advocate for key issues, including disaster management, tribal welfare, and regional development.

Emphasising the importance of balanced federalism, he stated that any delimitation exercise altering proportional representation risks marginalising states like Odisha. He further pointed out that the state could face a relative disadvantage of around 0.5 percentage points compared to other states likely to be affected by the proposed changes.

Calling the issue more than a political concern, Patnaik described it as a matter of preserving the federal spirit enshrined in the Constitution. He urged MPs from the state to act responsibly and ensure that Odisha’s interests are safeguarded during parliamentary deliberations.

“The people of Odisha have entrusted their representatives with the responsibility to protect their economic and political future. Such changes should not pass without thorough scrutiny,” he stated in the letter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda