: As anticipated, former bureaucrat V Karthikeyan Pandian on Monday officially joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at the Naveen Nivas in the presence of party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
With his induction into the BJD, Pandian is expected to play a key role as the BJD will seek an unprecedented sixth term in office when elections are held in 2024. Naveen Patnaik has been the Chief Minister since the year 2000.
BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said, "BJD president and Odisha CM Naven Patnaik officially inducted VK Pandian into the BJD. Pandian took Naveen Patnaik's blessing after this. Speaking to the senior leaders Naveen Patnaik said that just like Pandian had served the people of Odisha as a bureaucrat, he would continue to do the same while in the BJD. He will work towards taking forward Naveen Patnaik's vision for the development of Odisha forward."
Naveen Patnaik said, "I welcome Sri Pandian to the Biju Janata Dal. As all of you know, he has been working very hard for several years for the people of our State and he will continue to do so as a member of the party. I wish him all the best."
Pandian said, “With the blessings of Mahaprabhu, guidance of CM Naveen Patnaik and support of the party leaders, I will dedicatedly and selflessly work for the people of Odisha.”
In October this year, Pandian was appointed as Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiative) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of a Cabinet Minister of the State.
This came a day after the Centre approved the voluntary retirement of the IAS officer, who had been serving as Private Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Pandian, a 2000-batch Odisha-cadre IAS officer, started his career as a Sub-Collector in Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district. He then served as Collector in Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts before transitioning to his role in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
In the last 10 years, Pandian has played a major role in many crucial decisions of the Patnaik government.
Pandian also played a key part in mega projects such as Sri Jagannath Heritage Corridor. He also supervised the government’s initiative of renovation and restoration of ancient temples throughout the State.
In September, Pandian completed his tour of all 147 Assembly constituencies in the State.
Pandian is also considered as the man behind the State Government’s flagship programme Mo Sarkar, which aims at injecting professionalism and a sustained behavioural change in public offices and functionaries through a random feedback mechanism that directly connects the government with the citizens.