As VK Pandian resigned from government service, people of Odisha went crazy with speculations of dramatic changes in the State’s political scenario. VK has remained in focus since the 2019 victory of BJD. Naveen, the party supremo, reposed great faith in VK and literally empowered him to take most administrative decisions. VK has been religiously updating Naveen on all critical matters. The Chief Minister has beenbelieving VK and has never sought any opinion from politicians as he imagined most of the community were wicked and corrupt, except one or two.
In good time, VK became the sole confidante and guide to the supremo. Many frontline politicians who had turned arrogant with power were methodically cut down to size. The bureaucrats only got authorised to take critical decisions to be routinely approved by the political creatures including the members of the executive who were not allowed to ask questions. The arrangement seems to be working fine even today.
As time rolled by, politicians acclimatised themselves to being subservient to bureaucrats only to survive. This unique phenomenon is marked in the Modi administration too though it is not so glaring. Like Naveen, Narendra Modi is also overawed by some truly clever bureaucrats and, therefore, trusts their decisions. Most developed countries too run administration with the help of law-knowing bureaucrats who are expected to guide the executive. All this is because bureaucrats have the keen sense to feel the pulse of the people due to a variety of field postings where they meet people to know their problems and aspirations.
Naveen has gone several steps ahead in being open about his trust in bureaucrats whose track records are superbly impressive. So, whenever he found it physically inconvenient, he would push VK on the job and take the latter’s findings for the ground truth. No wonder, VK remained Naveen's private secretary between 2011 and October 2023 when he put in his papers to keep countless detractors' mouths shut for they kept screaming about his unusual closeness to Naveen and taking over total command of the administrative machinery. Naveen did not care a hoot for such disgruntled people. Consequently, the once-political bigwigs in the BJD fold ended up bowing down to VK as they realised his decision would be endorsed blindly by Naveen.
In Odisha, interestingly, in the last fifteen years, no opposition party, either the BJP or the Congress, has been able to remain in respectable shape. The BJD strategists have methodically destroyed all opposition stalwarts. The people found in Naveen a saviour who would not steal public money to fill personal coffers. So, they reposed full faith in the Naveen-headed party, more so because the bureaucrats too were forced to remain on toes to get Naveen's wish list fulfilled anyway.
However, as surveys reveal, ground-level corruption has never been curbed one bit. The Sub-Collectors, tehsildars, BDOs and meaner revenue officials the same way as commercial tax, transport and field police officials et al have not been any different. They keep extracting money from gullible and helpless people even today. In keeping with the culture, the rural political creatures like sarpanches and Zilla Parishad leaders have merrily kicked all scruples only to make illicit money. Despite the 5T principles imposed in every department, not much has changed as people’s enquiry shows today. The 5T as a specific line department is not acceptable as transparency, teamwork, timeliness, optimum use of technology are naturally ingrained in all public delivery machinery by default. All this led to healthy transformation of delivery systems and public good. Whoever named VK the head of 5T is a rascal as the highly respectable private secretary became a ‘5T official' that makes no sense. Similarly, later, some headless media rogue has named a scheme ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha' instead of a plain and simple ‘Nabin Odisha'. The BJD ‘think tank' and media strategists are plain pinheads. It is a pity that not a single soul has opposed some of these silly moves by the BJD outfit, thereby lowering the image of the party.
Meanwhile VK has been politically appointed boss of the ‘Nabin Odisha' initiative. Hopefully, he will amend the stupid project names and add decency to them. Lately, people are getting a little confused and suspicious. The big guys have to clear the air.
It can be forecast easily that the BJP will be helped to pocket ten or so Lok Sabha seats, maybe more. The national BJP bosses will, in return, help Naveen retain a handsome majority to rule Odisha for a sixth consecutive term.
People must know why this kind of predictions is being made. Naveen is adored and respected by all top political leaders of the country. The formidable Modi-Shah duo too is aware of the fact that it is nearly impossible to dislodge BJD to put BJP in place as people of Odisha have put Naveen in their mental system for good. Since in Odisha Congress leaders have disintegrated and BJP loudmouths have lost dignity due to infighting and lack of solidarity, BJD is gaining ground everywhere. As a result, the local self-proclaimed BJP biggies are only scoffed at by the masses except perhaps Aparajita, Dharmendra and Ashwini Vaishnaw who have some substance. They may find easy to land in the Lok Sabha; but to become a legislator in Odisha even these three may find it extremely difficult. It is also true that national leader Sambit Patra is likely to have a cakewalk Lok Sabha win in Puri. No ordinary BJD guy or girl can win from the temple town easily unless a miracle happens.
Lastly, the Naveen-Modi-Shah pact is now crystal clear: Naveen helps bring back BJP at the Centre, and the saffron giants do not disturb Naveen in Odisha.
All the same, there is some chance of the sixth term battle for Naveen being fierce as VK will call shots from now. There is murmur that the former IAS officer may be opposed by some BJD moles by ganging up clandestinely with difficult elements. But as it looks, the BJD, under VK's stewardship, will sail through as the masses and see Naveen in him. But if there is big internal sabotage, the BJD may dwindle down to between 85-90 Assembly seats. However, most BJD legislators will unite to support VK only to avoid getting lost in thin air because they have the least chances of winning on any other symbol than the magical ‘Conch'. VK has only to ensure that jokers, half-baked sycophants and errand runners in the party are systematically brushed aside. Only dignified old or fresh faces can reduce danger of a debacle for BJD.