Tue Mar 11 10:59:09 UTC 2025: ## Odisha’s BJD to Join Southern States in Delimitation Protest

**Bhubaneswar, March 11, 2025** – The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, will participate in a meeting on March 22nd in Chennai to discuss concerns over the upcoming delimitation exercise. The decision follows a meeting between Mr. Patnaik and a delegation from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK, spearheaded by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is organizing a joint action committee to rally opposition against the population-based delimitation, which Southern states fear will reduce their representation in the Lok Sabha. A two-member DMK delegation, including MP Dayanidhi Maran and Tamil Nadu IT Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, secured Mr. Patnaik’s agreement to attend the meeting.

Mr. Maran expressed concerns that the delimitation process could unfairly benefit northern states at the expense of developing southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Punjab. He highlighted that these states, while focusing on population control, may face a reduction in parliamentary seats.

While acknowledging the concerns, BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra stated that the party has yet to formally deliberate on the issue, citing the pending census and unfinalized delimitation modalities. He emphasized that the BJD will prioritize Odisha’s interests and thoroughly discuss the matter before taking a public stance. Mr. Mishra also noted the BJD’s previous collaboration with the DMK on the issue of women’s reservation in Parliament.

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