V K Pandian, a close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik,   joins BJD Likely to get the number-2 post in the party

Bhubaneswar: Former IAS officer VK Pandian, a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Monday formally joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).  Pandian joined the regional party in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, other state ministers, MLAs, and senior BJD leaders.  Pandian is a 2000-batch IAS officer. His name has been associated with many controversies. He was charged with violating the service rule. He took voluntary retirement from government service on October 23 this year.

Pandian, a former Odisha cadre IAS officer, had resigned from his job in October. Soon after, he was appointed head of the Modern Odisha and Transformational Initiative. The post was at the cabinet minister level.

Since then, there has been a buzz in political circles that Pandian could be the political successor of state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He is likely to get the number-2 post in the Biju Janata Dal. He was appointed chairman of the state’s flagship 5T (Transformative Initiative) and New Odisha Scheme in the rank of cabinet minister.

Pandian joined the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO)  in  2011 and since then he has been the private secretary of CM Naveen Patnaik. After Patnaik became chief minister for the fifth time in  2019, Pandian was given the additional responsibility of  5T  secretary to implement some transformational initiatives in government departments.

Pandian was considered the most powerful person in the state when he was the personal secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. At that time, no important decision in the Odisha government was taken without their consent.

The party’s decision to induct Pandian into the ruling Biju Janata Dal  (BJD) on Kartik Purnima, considered an auspicious day in Odisha, assumes great political significance. However, the role and status of Pandian, who wields a major influence in Odisha’s power corridor, is not yet clear.

Pandian was considered the most powerful person in the state when he was the personal secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. At that time, no important decision in the Odisha government was taken without their consent। The party’s decision to induct Pandian into the ruling Biju Janata Dal  (BJD) on Kartik Purnima, considered an auspicious day in Odisha, assumes great political significance From the Internal source of BJD, his role will be crucial in designing the party’s campaign plan and candidate selection ahead of the upcoming assembly and general elections due in April-May next year.