'I'm Sorry...': VK Pandian Quits Active Politics After BJD Loses Odisha, Apologises To Party Workers

VK Pandian, a close of former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, on Sunday announced that he is leaving active politics after the Biju Janata Dal’s humiliating loss in the state Assembly elections.

Pandian’s decision came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a landslide victory in the polls and decimated the BJD, which ruled Odisha for over two decades, to just 51 seats in the 147-member Assembly.

Pandian’s Tamil origin became one of the talking points of the BJP’s poll campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing that the BJP Chief Minister nominee would be someone who is born in Odisha and speaks Odia. The BJP had also alleged that Pandian will take over as Odisha CM if the BJD wins again citing Naveen Patnaik’s health.

‘I Am Sorry…’: VK Pandian

In a video message, Pandian apologised to the BJD workers and leaders and said, “My intent of joining politics was only and only to assist Naveen Babu, and now I consciously decided 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 extend my heartfelt gratitude to lakhs and lakhs of Biju parivar members with whom I am associated. I will always keep Odisha in the core of my heart and my guru Naveen Babu in my breath. I pray to Lord Jagannath for their prosperity,” he added.

Additionally, Pandian, who had joined the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office 12 years ago, said that it was an “honour” for him to have worked for Naveen Patnaik. “The experience, the learning I had from him is for a lifetime. His expectation from me was to implement his vision for Odisha, and he successfully crossed many milestones in health, education, and poverty reduction,” he said.

‘Unfortunate’: Naveen Patnaik On Pandian’s Criticism

On Saturday, Biju Janata Dal supremo and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik defended Pandian after his party’s shocking defeat in the state Assembly election and called his aide’s criticism “unfortunate”. The former Chief Minister also asserted that the latter did an “excellent job” without even holding any posts and talked about role played by Pandian during crises such as cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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,” Patnaik said.

Further clearing air on his successor talks, the BJD chief said, “I have always clearly said when asked about my successor that it is not Pandian. I repeat that the people of Odisha will decide my successor.”