Pandian, who joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on November 27attended the executive committee meeting of the party on Friday. At what was his first party meeting, Pandian cleared the air in the presence of senior party leaders. BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said Pandian made it clear that he had joined the party to “serve the people of Odisha” and would not contest elections. Mishra added that there is no problem if he decides to contest as well, and urged people to refrain from spreading rumours.
“Kartik Pandian (as he is referred to by BJD leaders) spoke for around 15 minutes at the executive meeting and clarified that he will not contest in the 2024 polls, saying he will instead help each of the 147 BJD candidates to win their contests,” said a senior BJD leader who was present at the meeting.
After the former IAS officer joined the party, there was strong speculation about his role, choice of constituency, position in the party and political future, which led to some confusion among party cadres. Sources said Pandian’s role would be shaped by his contributions to the party’s efforts to win a sixth straight term. “Everyone in the party is aware that he is the CM’s close confidant. If he plays a crucial role and contributes to the party’s winning streak, the CM may give him a top party post after the polls. For the time being, he will work as a member and help Patnaik finetune the party’s 2024 polls strategy,” said the BJD leader.
At the meeting, the former bureaucrat praised Patnaik’s leadership and said it had influenced his decision to join the party. Citing the 77-year-old CM’s commitment to Odisha and its people, Pandian urged BJD leaders to work wholeheartedly for the party.
Pandian’s rise
Known to be a camera-shy officer until 2019, when Patnaik won his fifth term, Pandian took a public role in March when he toured the state’s 147 Assembly constituencies on Patnaik’s behalf to attend grievance cell meetings. The exercise continued for six months despite protests by Opposition parties.
On October 23, his application for voluntary retirement was cleared in just three days by the Centre. A day later, he was appointed chairman of Nabin Odisha (New Odisha) and Vision 5T, the Patnaik government’s flagship initiatives, with the rank of Cabinet Minister.
The 48-year-old made his mark as the collector of the state’s larger districts such as Mayurbhanj and Ganjam, which is Patnaik’s home district. It may have been the reason that had drawn Patnaik’s attention to the officer. By May 2011, he was in the CM’s office as his private secretary and continued in this position till his retirement. Unlike his colleagues, he never went on Central deputation.
Strategy talk
At the executive committee meeting, the BJD planned its strategy for the general and Assembly elections. The party has decided to organise a 40-day grassroots connectivity programme from January 23 to March 5 (Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary) to showcase the welfare schemes of the state government.
The party also said it would request the Centre to fulfil the state’s just demands, signalling that it won’t take on the Narendra Modi government aggressively ahead of the general elections.
Addressing the meeting, Patnaik said, “Everyone is saying the BJD is the most successful regional party. But I have always been saying that it’s the most successful socio-economic movement in the country.”
Claiming that the transformation Odisha is currently undergoing is unprecedented, Patnaik told BJD leaders to counter the Opposition’s “misinformation campaign”. He added, “Be it a temple project, educational institutions, hospitals or irrigation and other sectors, the country is witnessing Odisha’s transformation. The Opposition will always spread misinformation about that as they don’t have any issues. Odisha’s transformation is a shock for them.”
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 15-12-2023 at 21:29 IST
