Politics

Odisha: putting an end to speculations VK Pandian Joins BJD officially

VK Pandian

An IAS officer who sparked several controversies and was accused of violating the service rule joined Biju Janata Dal on Monday.

The announcement put an end to speculations and rumours surrounding Pandian’s political aspirations, as he formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior BJD leaders at Naveen Niwas.

Naveen Patnaik wrote on X, “Glad to welcome Shri VK Pandian to @bjd_odisha. He has been working very hard for several years for the people of #Odisha and earned their respect & trust. I am sure Shri Pandian will continue to do so in the future as a member of the party. Wish him all the very best.”

A close aide to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian is anticipated to secure a prominent position within the BJD hierarchy, possibly standing next to Patnaik, who has been at the helm of the party since its inception on December 26, 1997.


Also Read: Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha: Revitalizes With The 5T Charge

VK Pandian: From IAS to Political Strategist

Pandian, originally hailing from Tamil Nadu, recently retired voluntarily from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) on October 23, 2023. Despite a career marked by controversies and accusations of violating service rules, Pandian’s transition into active politics is marked by his appointment as the Chairman of the state’s flagship 5T (Transformative Initiative) and Navin Odisha scheme, with the rank of a cabinet minister, working directly under the Chief Minister.

BJP National VP Baijayant Panda reacted sharply to this development and said, “The soul of late Biju Patnaik, who was a proud Odia, must be in terrible agony today seeing that not a single person from 4.5 crore Odia people could be found to run the party which was formed after his name”.

The former IAS officer commenced his bureaucratic journey in 2002 as the sub-collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district and subsequently held key positions, including the collector of Mayurbhanj district in 2005 and the collector of Ganjam in 2007.

Reshaping Odisha Politics

VK Pandian’s foray into BJD not only solidifies his alignment with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik but also signals a strategic move for the ruling party. His wealth of administrative experience and association with the 5T initiative positions him as a valuable asset for the BJD, potentially contributing to the party’s governance and development agendas. With his official entry into Biju Janata Dal, the top party leadership at the top, looks happy. It’s yet to be seen, how the party cadre that stays on the ground away from big corridors of Bhubaneswar, reacts to this development.

As Odisha witnesses this political shift, the role that VK Pandian will play within the BJD remains to be seen, but his entry into active politics undoubtedly adds a new dynamic to the state’s political landscape.

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