By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: Tamil Nadu born former Odisha cadre IAS Officer VK Pandian’s ( Fugitive Tamil Sanyashi) re-emergence could negatively impact BJD’s Vote share in Nuapada, potentially costing them 10-15% based on historical patterns from 2024, where his prominence alienated voters in similar rural, tribal belts.
In the 2024 polls, BJD’s statewide vote share dropped from 44% in 2019 to 40%, with VK Pandian cited as a factor in anti-BJD sentiment, especially among Odia nationalists who viewed him as an “Intruder” overshadowing local leaders.
Recent track records suggest his Advisory role is under scrutiny in this Nuapada bypoll, which serves as a litmus test for both Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s leadership and sitting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s Government.
VK Pandian campaigns or influences strategy visibly, it might rally BJD’s core base (women and welfare scheme beneficiaries via programs like Mission Shakti) but risk backlash from undecided voters or defectors, boosting BJP’s narrative of BJD as “Tamil-dominated.”
Polls indicate a close race with BJP slightly favored to win, but BJD could hold if they downplay Pandian’s involvement and focus on local grievances like poor infrastructure.
Internal BJD revolts tied to Pandian might also erode cadre morale, indirectly hurting turnout efforts. Overall, his shadow could tip the scales against BJD in this tight contest, reinforcing the party’s post-2024 vulnerabilities.
Tamil Sanyashi Pandian, the former bureaucrat-turned-politician and close aide to BJD leader Naveen Patnaik, has indeed shown signs of re-engaging with the party in 2025, though not in a formal political capacity.
After quitting active politics following BJD’s defeat in the 2024 Odisha assembly elections, where he was widely blamed for the loss due to his “outsider” status (as a Tamil Nadu native) and perceived overreach, Pandian largely stepped back.
However, recent developments indicate a subtle return to the public eye and advisory role. In August 2025, he was spotted accompanying Patnaik at events, holding hands in a viral video, signaling his continued personal influence.
BJD insiders acknowledge that while he’s avoiding day-to-day party affairs, his strategic input remains key, sparking internal dissent and revolts within the party.
Patnaik has publicly defended him, emphasizing his contributions and expelling critics, but protests like the “VK Pandian Go Back” slogans at Naveen Niwas highlight ongoing resentment.
Speculation about a “grand return,” possibly involving his wife Sujata Karthikeyan, has also surfaced, though BJD officially states he’s retired from politics but not from supporting Patnaik personally.
The Nuapada assembly bye-election, scheduled for November 13, 2025 (not November 11, as per official Election Commission announcements; polling is on the 13th with results on the 23rd), was triggered by the resignation of BJP MLA Laxman Bag after his Lok Sabha win earlier in the year.
Nuapada, in western Odisha, has historically been a BJD stronghold—Patnaik’s party won it comfortably in 2019 with over 50% vote share, though the margin narrowed in 2024 amid anti-incumbency.
This bypoll is a high-stakes prestige battle: for BJD, it’s a chance to reclaim momentum as the main opposition; for the ruling BJP under CM Mohan Majhi, it’s an opportunity to consolidate power in a tribal-dominated area with issues like migration, irrigation, and unemployment at play.
As of October 20, 2025, 19 candidates have filed nominations, including from BJP (candidate: Bhabani Shankar Nayak), Congress (Abhinandan Panda), and BJD (candidate: Saroj Kumar Sahu, a local leader). Voter turnout in past elections here hovers around 75-80%, with about 2.5 lakh electors.
