VK Pandian not my political successor, says Odisha CM as BJP questions former bureaucrat's 'growing influence'

The Odisha CM says that the allegations made by his opponents are 'ridiculous'.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his close aide, VK Pandian, is not his political successor.

His comments came amid the BJP turning up the heat on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD over the growing influence of his aide and former bureaucrat Pandian. “He is not my successor. I see all of this as exaggeration and falsehood. I can’t understand these exaggerations. You may have noticed that he is not even standing for elections,” Naveen Patnaik said in an interview with news agency ANI.

The CM said his successor “will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result in these things”. “The party is being run for the service of the people of Odisha and will continue to do so,” he said.

Responding to allegations that Pandian is now taking all key decisions on Patnaik’s behalf, the Odisha CM said this is “ridiculous” and an “old allegation that holds no weight”.

At a recent rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that there was a "conspiracy behind the sudden deterioration of Naveen Patnaik's health” and vowed to form a committee to inquire into the CM’s medical history. "Is there a conspiracy behind the sudden deterioration of Naveen Patnaik's health? Is the lobby currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for sudden deterioration of his health?" asked PM Modi.

Who is Pandian?

VK Pandian, a former bureaucrat, took voluntary retirement from the Indian Civil Services on October 23 last year and joined the BJD on November 27. Earlier, he held the position of private secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for 12 years.

Pandian, who has never claimed to be Patnaik’s political successor, has always called the Odisha CM his “guru”.

Pandian, hailing from Tamil Nadu, currently occupies the role of the Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and “Nabin Odisha” in the Odisha government.

On whether he will be Patnaik’s “political successor”, Pandian, told Indian Express, “I live one day at a time; I don’t have long-term goals. I will work if I get a chance. I believe in karma.”

Speaking about the BJD-BJP acrimony in recent campaigns and its likely impact in the future, Patnaik said he has never shown acrimony to anyone in public life. “When support is required, we will judge our appropriate position,” he said.

“We will form a solid government again in the state, and in the Parliament, we will have a very good majority,” said Patnaik.