Finance
Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide VK Pandian on Sunday announced retirement from active politics after the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) suffered an defeat in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
He said this in a video message circulated by him on social media.
“Odisha and my guru Naveen Babu shall always remain in the core of my heart and breath. I took voluntary retirement from IAS and joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) only to help Naveen Babu to realise his dreams and aspirations for the people of Odisha. I have had the great fortune of working closely with Naveen Babu and learning from his ideals, morals, ethics, leadership, and aspirations for Odisha and its people. I am also grateful to the people of Odisha and the BJD family for showering their love and respect on me,” Pandian said in the video message.
Pandian also apologised to the people and the BJD family members for the defeat of the party in the General Election-2024. “I am sorry if the campaign narrative against me has hurt the party. I apologise to all members and workers of the BJD family for this. I came into politics only to help Naveen Patnaik.”
He added, “The only property my family and I own today is what I have inherited from my grandfather. My property declaration while joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) remains the same today. Apart from this I or my family does not own any property.”
