VK Pandian Not My Successor, Clarifies Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dispelled rumours about his close aide, VK Pandian, being his political successor. "He is not my successor. I see all of this as exaggeration and falsehood," Patnaik stated in an interview with ANI.

Patnaik clarified that Pandian is not running for the Lok Sabha or state Assembly elections. This response came amid questions about the future leadership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which Patnaik founded in December 1997.

"I have said this repeatedly: the successor (of the party) will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result of these things," Patnaik reiterated. He emphasized that the BJD will continue to serve the people of Odisha.

VK Pandian, a former bureaucrat, retired from the Indian Civil Services on October 23 last year. He joined the BJD on November 27. He had served as Patnaik’s private secretary for 12 years.

Pandian, originally from Tamil Nadu, currently chairs the 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and 'Nabin Odisha' in the Odisha government. In an interview with India Today TV, Pandian mentioned that people see a reflection of Patnaik in his work.

"People see me as, maybe, Naveen Babu's workhorse. Naveen Babu is known for his work and people see a little bit of reflection of his work in me. People see that this guy is working for Naveen Babu and he is doing sincere work," Pandian remarked.