Bhubaneswar: With BJD leaders fuelling speculation about former bureaucrat VK Pandian’s possibly entering politics and contesting elections in 2024, Opposition BJP and Congress on Wednesday expressed doubts about the electorate accepting him.
A day after the state government appointed Pandian as Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha, some BJD leaders stoked speculation about the 2000-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer joining the electoral fray in 2024. Ganjam’s veteran BJD leader Ramesh Chandra Choupatnaik said the voters would welcome Pandian if he contests from any of 13 Assembly constituencies in the southern Odisha district.
“Pandian proved to be an able administrator when he was Ganjam Collector in 2007. As Secretary to Chief Minister
(Transformation and Initiatives) also he has ensured several development works in the district. He is a well-known personality among the people and would be a popular leader,” Choupatnaik said.
Another senior BJD leader and Badachana MLA Amar Satpathy said Pandian would be an added advantage to BJD if he joins the party. “It is purely the discretion of BJD president Naveen Patnaik whether Pandian would join the party. The Chief Minister had brought him to his office considering his good work as Ganjam Collector. Besides, the state government has taken Odisha to new heights of development under 5T Initiatives headed by Pandian,” he maintained.
Stating that the good governance of the Naveen government would move at a rapid pace if Pandian takes active part in state politics, Satpathy said, “If he could be popular as an able administrator in Ganjam district, I don’t see why he would not emerge as a successful political leader in the state.”
Countering the BJD leaders, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Sarat Pattanayak launched a vicious attack on Pandian. Speaking at a presser in Bhubaneswar, Pattanayak said the people of Odisha would not accept him as their leader. “BJD and its leaders may accept Pandian as their leader, but the people of Odisha will not accept him at all,” he said.
On BJD leaders’ claim about Pandian being an able administrator, the OPCC president said they have to explain why more than 16 lakh people of Odisha continue to be deprived of two square meals a day even today.
“Unemployment has forced Odia youths to migrate outside. Law and order is in a shambles. Industries are closing down. Investments remain confined to papers. Do these reflect the development of Odisha under the all-powerful Pandian?” he asked.
In the same vein, BJP leader Golak Mohapatra said like he did in his administrative career, Pandian wants to make backdoor entry into politics via BJD. “Since the BJD is riddled with factional feud, its president wants Pandian to keep the factionalism under control. Like in state administration, he would have total control over the party in days to come,” he added.
However, despite the speculation, Pandian, who took voluntary retirement from IAS recently, has not yet issued any statement regarding him possibly entering politics.
