Odisha Delimitation Bill Political Debate

Former India===Odisha Chief Minister and India===Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik has strongly criticized the India===Bharatiya Janata Party over the proposed delimitation exercise linked to the women's reservation bill. Patnaik asserts that while India===Biju Janata Dal champions women's empowerment, it opposes any reduction in India===Odisha's political representation in the India===Lok Sabha, which he claims the delimitation bill would cause. He accused India===Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from India===Odisha of failing to raise their voices against this injustice. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to implement women's reservation based on the next Census and delimitation, was defeated in the India===Lok Sabha. The India===Bharatiya Janata Party, in turn, accused Naveen Patnaik of aligning with the India===Indian National Congress and betraying Biju Patnaik's legacy.