Naveen Patnaik Flags Concerns Over Delimitation Bill, Urges Odisha CM for Special Assembly Session

Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressing strong concerns over the proposed Delimitation Bill, stating that Odisha’s political rights must remain fully protected. In his letter, Patnaik emphasized that the issue goes beyond numerical representation and directly impacts the spirit of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution. He warned that any reduction in Odisha’s political rights could undermine the aspirations of its people. He urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter strongly and exercise his “moral and legitimate authority” to safeguard the state’s interests. Highlighting urgency, Patnaik requested that a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly be convened within 48 hours to pass a resolution ensuring that “not even 0.001% of Odisha’s political rights” are allowed to be taken away by any other state. Calling it a matter of “fate and future of Odisha,” he also appealed to sentiments as an Odia and said the BJD would support any such resolution in the interest of the state. The development has triggered political attention in Odisha, with discussions expected to intensify over the constitutional and federal implications of the Delimitation Bill.