Pushback against CM Patnaik's aide Pandian dominates poll narrative in Odisha

VK Pandian is a close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

At one stage in this important election campaign, VK Pandian was seen as the most important cog in the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) wheel. But the sheen seems to have worn off a bit. Unhesitatingly, one would say, he is still the star campaigner for his venerable Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik but there are rumblings that the Pandian story is not as hunky dory as before.

Some key voices in Odisha say there are curated camps planted in Delhi who are trying to denigrate the image of Pandian. But is that narrative so straightforward?

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The first key pushback against Pandian was the recent transfer of his bureaucrat wife Sujata R Karthikeyan. She was heading the Mission Shakti department.

The strength of this mission lies in its dealing with women self-help groups comprising around 70 lakh members. The BJP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission accusing her of being a "BJD agent."

The department, and the women self-help groups, have a special significance for the BJD government.

Naveen Patnaik introduced the programme in 2001. The aim was to form self-help groups among rural women. It was a move to help them get institutional finance to assist in micro-economic activities. Around 70 lakh women are organised under the programme as part of over 6 lakh groups.

The women are known to be the most "organised and loyal" vote bank of the BJD, and a key factor behind its electoral wins. As a form of reciprocity, the BJD frames schemes that place these women as top priority. And that is precisely why the government posted Sujata, a trusted hand, to head the initiative.

But the main allegation against her was the members were reportedly given training to identify the BJD symbol on the EV machines.

The Election Commission of India ordered her transfer to a non-public facing department.

The second pushback figured in a major Delhi newspaper making the allegation that Naveen Patnaik apparently lost his cool during a meeting with his top brass for being pushed to carry out a pre-poll alliance with the BJP. And for that he held Pandian responsible.

Odisha insiders say this incident could not be corroborated. But it was an important leak nevertheless.

The third pushback came in the form of a failed pre-poll alliance with the BJP. It is a well-known fact that Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are on the best of terms. In fact, they both avoid naming each other during political slugfests. So, when the push to form such an alliance was made all eyes were on Pandian.

It is he who had the direct communication with the BJP leadership to form the alliance. Some Odiya leaders from within BJD had leaked their offline reservations to the media saying what was the need for a pre-poll tie up when it was best to shake hands after the elections?

The much-touted alliance fell through.

Yes, it was an unsaid factor that the BJD cared more for the state assembly elections than the Lok Sabha fight. Still, the onus of the failed attempt fell on Pandian.

Certain thorny questions were raised by his detractors: Was Pandian paving the way for his own coronation with BJP support post Naveen Patnaik? With Naveen not in great health would the BJD splinter and if so then Pandian would undoubtedly need BJP support? With BJD sitting pretty in the state why would Pandian try to broker a deal?

And in his latest rally in Nabarangpur, Odisha PM Modi did a slam dunk in his own inimitable style: "June 4 is the expiry date for the BJD government. I have come here today to invite you all to the oath ceremony of BJP's CM on June 10. I am sure you won't deny my invitation like the ones who rejected the invitation for Ram Temple."

The Odisha elections are vital as the state faces twin elections for the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats.

Though Pandian holds no official designation in the BJD, which has ruled the state since 2000, he remains a very key factor in this ongoing poll campaign. He became Naveen's secretary until he quit the IAS, and controlled all access to him.

He extols 4.5 crore Odias to re-elect "Naveen Babu" for a 6th term. And it is here his Non-Odia identity has come in for relentless attack. Born in Tamil Nadu, Pandian came to Odisha only after being married to an IAS colleague. He manages to speak Odia with a pronounced Tamil accent, and that is why his 'outsider' status has become some form of mill-stone around his neck.

"Odia Asmita" (Odia Pride) is in danger", warned Modi in his interviews. But the harshest attacks on Pandian, have come from rivals in the state. And critical "offline voices" from a strong section of Odiya leaders within.

Rivals of Pandian believe their offensive against him will resonate within the echo-chamber of voters. The counter attack against Pandian is being built upon the premise that the BJD was formed as a regional outfit to uphold and safeguard Odia pride and interests. But now that story has got skewed as Naveen, the lion in winter, has chosen an "outsider" as his trusted lieutenant.

The obsession with Pandian has swamped key issues like unemployment, poor education infrastructure and spiralling water problems. Migration of youth from the state in search of jobs cannot be wished away.

In his mind's eye Pandian sees himself as an asset and serving his Guru Naveen Patnaik. But his rivals weigh him up through the prism of an outsider who has got his finger on the throne. Can he hang on? Can he continue to be a valued regent?

Some of those answers would depend on the poll results. For now pushback against Pandian overshadows all election news coming out of Odisha.