Pandian controlling even hand movements of Odisha CM, claims Himanta

Pandian is considered close to Patnaik who is also the president of the ruling BJD.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Tuesday, May 28, amid fierce campaigning for the last round of elections, that VK Pandian, a former bureaucrat who is now leading the BJD, is controlling even Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's hand movements.

Sharing a video showing Patnaik's hand shaking while delivering a speech at a meeting and Pandian putting it on a table, Sarma said in a post on X: "This is a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu." Pandian is considered close to Patnaik who is also the president of the ruling BJD.

Responding to the barb, Patnaik said the BJP which is "known to make non-issues into issues" is now discussing his hand movements.

"I shudder to imagine the level of control an ex-bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha! BJP is determined is give back the reins of Odisha to the people of the state," Sarma, who is campaigning in Odisha, said in the post. Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but shifted to Odisha cadre after marrying an Odiya woman. The BJP has been calling him an outsider in Odisha's politics.

In response to Sarma’s comment, Patnaik in a video message said, "I believe the BJP which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work." The BJP leader’s remark came hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted in an election rally that Patnaik will be an ex-chief minister on June 4, the day on which votes will be counted. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously in Odisha.

Patnaik asserted the BJP was circulating lies about his health condition.  "As you can see, I am in very good health, and I have been campaigning for around a month all over the state," Patnaik said in a statement. Pandian had also referred to the BJP leaders' remarks as regrettable and beneath them.

On June 1, the final phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place. Amit Malviya, the chairman of the BJP's IT wing, requested a respectful farewell to the seasoned lawmaker in an X post on Tuesday. Prior to this, Shah and other BJP leaders suggested that Patnaik, who is 77 years old, should retire because of his older age and health problems. In addition, if the BJP is elected to power, the saffron party pledged to appoint a youthful Odia-speaking native as chief minister.