Is VK Pandian taking decisions on behalf of BJD? Naveen Patnaik responds
Naveen Patnaik
Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik on Thursday (May 31) refuted the allegations that ex-bureaucrat VK Pandian is his successor.
The people of Odisha will be choosing his successor, said the Odisha CM.
"I have said again and again that the successor will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result of these things," Patnaik said to news agency ANI.
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Patnaik further dismissed claims of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, that Pandian is controlling the state.
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The BJD chief said all these allegations by BJP were ridiculous and holdno significance.
When questioned if his close aide takes all the decisions on his behalf, Patnaik said, "That is ridiculous and I have said it repeatedly. This is an old accusation and it holds no weight".
VK Pandian, a former Tamil Nadu bureaucrat, took voluntary retirement from the Indian Civil Services last year and joined the BJD.
Patnaik further stated that such allegations come due to BJP's increasing fear over their declining popularity in Odisha.
"I see it that they are getting more and more desperate, particularly as their popularity is fading in the country," Patnaik said.
Dismissing the speculation regarding his health, he said he is perfectly fine and had been campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
The CM further said, his party would return to power for a record sixth term.
"We have been progressing in several fields, on education, on health. agriculture on irrigations of controlling national calamities programs for women. We have done a great deal and we intend to do much," he said.
Himanta Sarma on Thursday said that Pandian has a firm backdoor entry in running Odisha.
"I have watched Naveen Babu's interview to @ANI which was specifically intended to allay our concerns. Unfortunately, his well-rehearsed answers have ended up raising more questions. Naveen Babu was unable to answer why Mr Pandian was the only person to be seen with him; either holding his mike or controlling his hands," Sarma said in a long post on X.
"Naveen Babu's successor is irrelevant, as Mr Pandian already has a firm backdoor entry in running Odisha. He has pervasive control over the Chief Minister and Nabin Niwas. Naveen Babu failed to assure the people of Odisha that this will change," he stated.
“Even after this interview, people of Odisha still do not know - why ministers/ bureaucrats have no direct access to the Chief Minister; does the Chief Minister physically sign on any file or Mr Pandian uses his digital signature; where is the key to Mahaprabhu’s Ratna Bhandar. These are among the several questions that remain unanswered,” Sarma further stated.
“When asked, in the unlikely event of BJD winning, will Naveen Babu continue for 5 years. His reply lacked a decisive yes. Either Mr Pandian has already selected the “successor” or more likely, even Naveen Babu knows BJP is winning hands down,” Sarma further added.
(With inputs from agencies)