BJD Executive To Meet In Bhubaneswar On Dec 15; Will Pandian Get A Key Role For 2024 Twin Polls In Odisha?

Bhubaneswar: Ever since 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) around a fortnight ago people in the state have been speculating about the role he would be playing in the run up to the twin elections due next year.

With the state Assembly as well as Lok Sabha polls fast approaching, sources said the ruling BJD is now all set to further sharpen its strategy for the electoral battle and Pandian may have to play a significant role in shaping the future course.

A crucial meeting of BJD executive committee is slated to be held on December 15 ahead of the forthcoming elections. In all probability, the meeting will be held at Sankha Bhawan, the party headquarters, in Bhubaneswar in the morning. A public meeting may also be held on the occasion.

While issues relating to the elections are likely to be discussed at the meeting, speculations are rife that certain key decisions pertaining to the forthcoming polls may be taken by the ruling party.

It is believed that Pandian, who has been the eyes and ears of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik for the last over 12 years, will be given a prominent role in the party ahead of the elections.

After Pandian joined BJD on November 27 in the presence of Naveen and others, party leaders had exuded confidence that he would bring success to the organisation just as he did for the administration. They were of the view that the party will immensely benefit from his administrative and political experience.

With Naveen preparing to seek votes for a sixth term, Pandian is likely to be given a key role in the party, observers feel.

The 2000-bath IAS officer, who was the CM’s private secretary since 2011, was appointed to a cabinet-rank position after exiting the civil services in October. His VRS was cleared by the Centre on October 23, fuelling speculation for his full-time plunge into state politics.

Pandian has been very powerful in the Naveen Patnaik dispensation especially since 2019 when he was made Secretary to Chief Minister (Transformation and Initiatives), popularly called 5T Secretary, and the fact that the Odisha and the central governments okayed his VRS application within two working days, waived the notice period and the state General Administration department notified his appointment as ‘Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha’ with Cabinet rank within hours of his retirement spoke volumes about his plans and influence.

While Pandian’s closeness to Naveen was never been in doubt, his efficiency and management skills were the talk of the power corridors, with almost every move of the chief minister bearing his stamp.

Born in Tamil Nadu, Pandian has an Odisha connection: his wife Sujata hails from the state’s Kendrapada district. Her father Akshay Kumar Rout, who passed away in 2020, was an eminent paediatrician.

Speculations are rife that Pandian, who was the longest-serving private secretary to the state’s longest-serving chief minister, may be given an important task in the party which has been in power in the state since 2000.