Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday emphasized that population alone should not determine the number of seats in Parliament. He called for a comprehensive discussion among all political parties before initiating the delimitation process.
Speaking virtually at the first Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation, convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Patnaik reaffirmed his party’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of Odisha’s people.
“Our stance is clear—population should not be the only basis for deciding parliamentary representation,” Patnaik stated.
“The Union government must engage in a detailed dialogue with all parties to eliminate any doubts regarding this crucial issue, which has significant implications for our democracy,” he said.
The BJD deputed two senior leaders, former minister Sanjay Das Burma and former MP Amar Patnaik, to represent the party at the Chennai meeting.
Highlighting the importance of population control, the former Odisha chief minister noted that states that have successfully managed their population growth should not be penalized in the delimitation process.
“Population control is a key national agenda essential for the country’s development. States that have diligently worked to stabilize their population in line with national priorities should not be disadvantaged,” he asserted.
Patnaik stressed that fair representation must be ensured for all states, particularly those that have contributed to national goals.
Apart from BJD, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also participated in the discussions in Chennai.
