VK Pandian not my successor: Naveen Patnaik dismisses speculation

Putting speculations to rest, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his close aide, VK Pandian, is not his political successor.

“He is not my successor. I see all of this as exaggeration and falsehood,” Naveen Patnaik said in an interview with news agency ANI.

Patnaik pointed out that VK Pandian is not even contesting the Lok Sabha or state Assembly elections.

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Naveen Patnaik's answer came in response to a question about the succession plan in the Biju Janata Dal, which was founded by him in December 1997 as a breakaway faction from the Janata Dal.

“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,” Naveen Patnaik said.

“The party is being run for the service of the people of Odisha and will continue to do so,” he added.

VK Pandian, a former bureaucrat, took voluntary retirement from the Indian Civil Services on October 23 last year and joined the BJD on November 27. Before that, he held the position of private secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for 12 years.

Pandian, a native of Tamil Nadu, currently occupies the role of the Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and 'Nabin Odisha' in the Odisha government.

In an exclusive chat with India Today TV, Pandian spoke about how people see a reflection of Naveen Patnaik in him.

"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 said.

Published By: Anuja Jha Published On: May 30, 2024