Pradhan rebuts Patnaik, backs delimitation move for Odisha

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday criticised Naveen Patnaik for what he termed as “misleading claims” regarding Odisha’s political representation, asserting that the state stands to gain if the proposed delimitation exercise is implemented.

The senior BJP leader urged the BJD chief to “stop spreading falsehood,” responding to Patnaik’s allegation that Odisha’s representation in Parliament would be reduced if the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill is passed.

Pradhan maintained that concerns about Odisha losing political voice are unfounded and politically motivated. He argued that delimitation, which involves redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population changes, would instead enhance the state’s representation in the long run.

The remarks came a day after Patnaik alleged that all 20 BJP MPs from Odisha acted against the state’s interests by supporting the bill in the Lok Sabha on April 17. He had warned that the legislation could adversely impact Odisha’s political rights.

Countering the claim, Pradhan reiterated that the proposed reforms are aimed at ensuring fair and proportionate representation across states and dismissed the opposition’s criticism as an attempt to create confusion among the public.

The exchange marks a fresh escalation in the political tussle between the BJP and the BJD over the implications of the delimitation proposal and its potential impact on Odisha’s representation at the national level.