The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha has decided to consult 22 political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, as part of its effort to build consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill, pending in Parliament. The BJD, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, resolved at a meeting Wednesday that its delegates would meet leaders of seven national parties and 15 regional parties in this regard, party leaders said.

The meeting deliberated on the party's strategy for intensifying its campaign seeking 33 per cent reservations for women in Parliament and state Assemblies. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised the BJD's move, dubbing it as an "eyewash". A release issued by the party listing the names of BJD representatives, including MPs, who would meet representatives of various parties, did not mention Patnaik's name. The development came a day after Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate steps to pass the Women's Reservation Bill, in Parliament. Though the Womens Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it could not be passed in the Lok Sabha.