Patra referenced a letter from BJD President Naveen Patnaik to Odisha MPs, highlighting the party’s longstanding commitment to increasing women’s representation in Panchayati Raj institutions.

The remarks came during a special sitting of Parliament, convened by the government until April 18, to consider amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. These are related to the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Patra said, “The President of the BJD, Naveen Patnaik Ji, has written a letter to all MPs of Odisha, recalling how he and Biju Patnaik championed women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions in the state. He raised concerns about the delimitation bill being linked with the Women’s Reservation Bill. The BJD has always supported the Women’s Reservation Bill, including in 2023, but warned that the current constitutional amendment, tied to delimitation, is worrying.”

Naveen Patnaik also urged state MPs to oppose the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill both inside and outside Parliament, arguing that the bill unfairly penalises states that have controlled population growth.

In a post on X, Patnaik stated that the bill could “undermine the interests of the state,” noting that Odisha's share in the Lok Sabha would drop from 3.9% to 3.4% if the bill is implemented, which he called a significant loss. “A 0.5% share loss is a huge loss given our minuscule 3.9% representation today. A relative reduction in Odisha’s voice in the Lok Sabha would weaken our ability to advocate for state-specific needs, from disaster management to tribal welfare and regional development. This is not merely a political issue-it is about preserving the federal spirit enshrined in our Constitution,” he added.

Patnaik emphasised that the BJD “wholeheartedly supports” the 106th Constitution Amendment Bill in 2023 regarding women’s reservation, citing his family's pioneering efforts in this area within Panchayati Raj institutions.

He argued that the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill penalises states that have effectively controlled population and warned that the reduction in Lok Sabha seats could distort the allocation of central resources and policy focus.

The three bills-the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026-were debated in the Lok Sabha after a division of votes on their introduction. The final vote count recorded 251 AYES and 185 NOES out of 333 votes.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that discussions on the three bills would last 15-18 hours, with voting scheduled for 4 pm on April 17, as part of the special parliamentary session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised opposition parties opposing the Delimitation Bill, which is being discussed alongside the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. He stated that some believe he has “political self-interest” in the bills and commented, “if they oppose it, it is natural that I will gain political benefit.”

Speaking in the debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill for early implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, PM Modi said credit for passage would be shared and offered to publicly thank all involved. “If the bills are unanimously passed, no one will gain any political advantage. Here, some people think that there is a political self-interest of Modi in this. If they oppose it, it is natural that I will gain political benefit, but if they walk along, no one will gain any political advantage. We don’t want credit,” he added.

The Prime Minister called for implementation of the women’s reservation bill from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, urging MPs not to miss the opportunity. He remarked that some moments are critical in a country’s life, shaped by society’s mindset and leadership capability, which can then become an asset for the nation.

The government has convened the special sitting of Parliament on April 16, 17, and 18 to pass these three bills, which were introduced in the lower house on April 16.