VK Pandian, a close aide of former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Sunday announced his retirement from politics following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJD) crushing defeat in both the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
“My sole motive in joining politics was to support Naveen Babu but I have now consciously decided to step away from politics,” Pandian, a former bureaucrat, said in a video message.
“I am sorry if I have hurt anyone in this process. I am sorry if this campaign rhetoric against me contributed to the BJD’s defeat. I apologise to the entire Biju Parivar including all party workers for this,” he added.
The BJD not only lost to one Lok Sabha seat in the assembly elections but also lost the state assembly elections, bringing to an end Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year rule in Odisha.
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Pandian, seen as a possible successor to Naveen Patnaik, came under heavy criticism after the BJD’s shock defeat in the recent elections, but Patnaik reiterated on Saturday that Pandian was not his successor and that the people of Odisha would decide on a successor.
Patnaik also said it was “unfortunate” to criticise Pandian for the party’s blunders and asserted that he had “done a fantastic job”.
Amid widespread discontent among party leaders and workers, Patnaik said, “He (Pandian) was an honest and sincere person and should be remembered for that.”
“There have been several criticisms against Pandian, which is unfortunate. Though he has joined the party, he has not held any office. He has not contested elections from any constituency. Whenever I have been asked about my successor, I have always categorically said that it will not be Pandian. I reiterate that it is the people of Odisha who will decide on his successor,” the former chief minister told PTI.
“He (Pandian) did a great job as an officer in different fields in the last 10 years, including during two cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic. After this great work, he retired from the bureaucracy and joined the BJD and contributed immensely by doing a great job. He was a sincere and honest person and should be remembered for that,” Patnaik said.
