Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's former private secretary Pandian joins BJD

V Karthikeyan Pandian, the former private secretary of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday, amid speculation that he is the second-in-command in the party affairs.

Though the BJD has not revealed Pandian’s likely role in the party, sources suggest he would be key in the ticket distribution ahead of the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections to be held simultaneously next year. The BJD is eyeing to retain power for a record sixth time.

The 2000-batch bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu was Patnaik’s private secretary in 2011 and secretary of the 5T (transformational activities) initiative until he took a voluntary retirement in October.

A day after retirement he was appointed as the chairman of the 5T initiative, a governance model that stands for teamwork, transparency, technology, time, and transformation. It aims at improving governance and ensuring the efficient delivery of public services. Pandian, 49, was also made the chairman of the Rs 3,397 crore ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ scheme with the status of a cabinet minister — a top rank in the Chief Minister’s Office, directly under Patnaik.

The chief minister said Pandian had been working hard for the state for several years and would continue to do so.

“He has earned people's respect. I wish him all the best,” Patnaik said after welcoming Pandian to the party.

As the 5T secretary, Pandian toured for six months across districts, heard public grievances, and oversaw several projects, including the Rs 943 crore Sri Jagannath Heritage Corridor.

The beautification project of the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri will open for the public on January 17, days before the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Before joining the party, Pandian visited the temple in Puri.

“With Lord Jagannath’s blessings, chief minister’s guidance, and your assistance, I will work for the people of Odisha with honesty, humility, and dedication,” he said in Odia after joining the party.

BJD’s Member of Parliament (MP) Pinaki Mishra told reporters that Pandian’s administrative and political experience would be an asset to the party.

Earlier this month, BJD Organisational Secretary Pranab Prakash Das had described Pandian as a “true disciple” of Patnaik and that he had “played a key role in turning the chief minister’s vision and thoughts into reality”.

“What favours Pandian is there is no negative wave against him in the party,” said Brahmananda Satpathy, a senior political science professor.

The Opposition has questioned Pandian’s ‘outsider’ status.

“Legendary Biju Patnaik, after whom the BJD is named, would have been in pain after seeing a non-Odia doing politics in the party,” BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda told reporters.

Pandian has become the fourth bureaucrat from the state in five years to join politics, after Union Railway and Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, and Congress’ campaign committee Chairman for Odisha Bijay Patnaik.

Pandian’s joining of the BJD comes days after his wife and Mission Shakti commissioner Sujata Karthikeyan Rout was given additional responsibility for the Odia language, literature, and cultural department.