Berhampur: After being formally inducted into Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Nabin Odisha and 5T Chairman V K Pandian visited the Maa Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam district to seek the blessings of the Goddess.
Accompanied by senior party leaders, including BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das and several MLAs, Pandian visited the famous shrine in the afternoon. He offered prayers and paid obeisance to the Goddess inside the temple.
During his visit, Pandian also interacted with the temple priests as well as locals.
It may be noted here that Maa Tara Tarini temple holds special significance for Pandian as he had taken several measures for the development of the shrine during his tenure as the Collector of Ganjam district. Later, he played a major role in the transformation of refurbished temple.
Earlier in the day, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed Pandian into the party fold.
The former bureaucrat took blessings of the CM by touching his feet before formally joining the Conch party at 10.15 am in presence of several senior BJD leaders, ending days of speculation about him taking a plunge into state politics after his voluntary retirement from service almost a month ago. “Pandian has been working hard for the people of Odisha for a number of years and he will continue to do so in the future as a member of the party,” Naveen said.
Pandian said with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and under the guidance of the CM, he will work for the people of the state with sincerity, dedication, selflessness and humility. He also sought the cooperation of all party leaders.
