VK Pandian, Rumored Successor To BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik, Quits Active Politics

Following the poll debacle in Odisha, VK Pandian, who was seen as the successor of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, announced his retirement from active politics on Sunday.

In a video, Pandian said, "Now, consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJD's loss,"

"I come from a very humble family and from a small village. My dream since childhood was to join the IAS and serve the people. Lord Jagannath made it happen. Because of my family from Kendrapara, I came to Odisha. From the day I set foot on the soil of Odisha, I have received immense love and respect from people of Odisha. I have tried to work very hard for the people," the BJD leader added.

The development comes amid a section of party leaders and workers expressing resentment against Pandian over party's poor show in both the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls.

The BJP stormed to power in Odisha, ending the 24-year rule of the BJD, by winning 78 seats in the 147-member assembly. The Patnaik-led party, on the other hand, bagged 51 seats, while the Congress won 14 constituencies, the CPI (M) one. Three Independent nominees also emerged victorious. The BJD failed to win any of the Lok Sabha seats in the state, with the BJP bagging 20 and the Congress one.

However, on Saturday, Naveen Patnaik stated that criticism of his aide VK Pandian for the party's defeat in the Odisha assembly elections was unfortunate, stating that Pandian did an "excellent job."

The five-term chief minister also clarified that while Pandian, a bureaucrat-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu, was not his successor, the people of Odisha would ultimately decide who his successor would be.

Speaking to PTI Video, Patnaik said, "There has been some criticism of Pandian. This is unfortunate. He joined the party and has not held any post. He did not contest the elections from any constituency. I have always clearly said when asked about my successor that it is not Pandian. I repeat again that the people of Odisha will decide my successor."

"As an officer, he (Pandian) did an excellent job in different fields in the last 10 years, be it during two cyclones or the COVID-19 pandemic. After this good work, he retired from the bureaucracy and joined the BJD and contributed largely by doing an excellent work. He is a person of integrity and honesty and should be remembered for that," Patnaik added.