Tamil Nadu Minister T.R.B. Rajaa and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran during a meeting with Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik. Photo courtesy: X/@arivalayam
The Biju Janata Dal led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will take part in the deliberations on the delimitation issue in Chennai on March 22.
The BJD agreed to participate after DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran and T.R.B. Rajaja, Tamil Nadu IT minister met with Mr. Patnaik here on Tuesday (March 11, 2025) on the instructions of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
The DMK supremo had called for a joint action committee meeting to garner support from various political parties against the population-based delimitation exercise. Political leaders from southern Indian States fear that they would lose out on the Lok Sabha seats.
“A two-member DMK delegation came today and conveyed Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin’s message to Naveen Patnaik ji, expressing concern over the delimitation issue. He also requested to participate in the deliberations on these issues. So Naveen ji has given his consent to attend the meeting on March 22,” said BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra.
“I along with Mr. Raja had come to invite Mr. Patnaik for the meeting. Former Odisha CM shares our concerns and fears that unfair delimitation will be not good for our States. There are seven States, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Punjab, which will be directly affected by the delimitation, in which our share will be reduced and northern States’ share will be increased,” said Mr. Maran.
“Because these (seven) States are developing States and controlling the population for that we have to pay the price. Mr. Patnaik agreed to attend the meeting and share his views,” said Mr. Maran.
The BJD has not seriously deliberated on the issue of delimitation. “The modalities for delimitation have not yet been finalized, and the annual census is still pending. We currently lack the latest population figures. Given the present circumstances, this is certainly a matter of concern. We will thoroughly discuss the issue within our party before making any public statements,” said Mr. Mishra.
The veteran BJD leader emphasized that the party prioritizes Odisha’s interests above all. “Two years ago, Naveenji had sent us to Tamil Nadu to meet DMK leaders regarding the one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State legislative assemblies. Delimitation is a serious concern, and we will certainly voice our apprehensions,” he said.
Published – March 11, 2025 04:29 pm IST
