Pradhan Dismisses BJD Claims On Odisha’s Representation In Lok Sabha

The senior BJP leader’s remarks came in response to Patnaik’s statement that Odisha’s share in Parliament may fall if the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill is passed in the Lok Sabha. Pradhan, on the contrary, argued that if delimitation were made, state representation would increase marginally from 3.87 per cent to 3.91 per cent.

He also said that the number of Lok Sabha seats in Odisha is expected to increase from the current 21 to 32, thereby strengthening the state’s voice at the national level. Referring to the discussions in Parliament, Pradhan said Union home minister Amit Shah had pointed out an overall increase in the representation of states. He also associated this development with the practice of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; Increasing representation under this law will mean more opportunities for women, including those from Odisha.

Pradhan emphasized that any expansion in seats would strengthen Odisha’s role in national decision-making processes and urged political leaders to rely on “fact-based discourse” instead of “misleading narratives”.

Responding to this, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty accused Pradhan of misrepresenting the facts and said legal safeguards should be clearly reflected in the bill. He argued that oral statements made during parliamentary debates cannot replace written provisions and questioned why the proposed increase in Odisha’s Lok Sabha seats was not mentioned in the legislation. Mohanty argued that due parliamentary process should be followed and warned against jumping to conclusions without concrete legal support.