By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Call it VK Pandian’s BJD (Bold Jolted Decisions) not Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (People loving Biju Patnaik). It looks very loud and clear, in recent years; Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has receded into the background, while a band of adventurous IAS officers led by VK Pandian has taken centrestage not only in managing state affairs but also in political events and targeting Party MLAs and Ministers , those who parted away from BJD Supremo. Ministers have been reduced to rubber-stamping decisions made by IAS officers.
VK Pandian , the de facto Chief Minister , who exercise his enormous power and authority under 5T Secretary tag, seems, pushing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to back seat.
The decision to sack Party’s Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik vindicated this narrative and it was ample clear and laud, those who confront with VK Pandian, a Tamil Nadu , cadre changed IAS officer of 2000 batch, will face the same fate.
Notably, on 12 September, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was removed from his post as the vice-president of the BJD and faces “disciplinary action” for speaking out against Pandian’s district tours and for criticising his role in Odisha’s politics.
Before Soumya Patnaik, who owns, Sambad and Kanata TV, former Minister Damodar Rout, Pradeep Panigrahy and former MP Baijayant Jay Panda, had also faced the same fate while opposing the ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘illegitimate’ dominance of VK Pandian in Government and Party affairs.
As expected, after being removed from BJD Vice President post, the Regional outfit on Thursday suspended Party’s Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, who has been at loggerheads with De Facto CM and 5T Secretary VK Pandian, a Tamil Nadu born, 2000 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer.
Action against Patnaik came following allegations of loan fraud by Sambad and Eastern Media Ltd run by BJD MLA. EOW is looking into Bank loan fraud case of Sambad media Group of MLA Patnaik.
BJD also suspended Remuna MLA Sudhansu Parida, who has been under Vigilance scanner. MLA Parida named in agriculture subsidy scam in Balasore.
Chief Minister and BJD President, Naveen Patnaik announced the suspension of MLAs Patnaik and Parida. Sources said, allegations were levelled against Remuna MLA Parida since past 3 years while BJD Supremo took action now.
Even though allegations against VK Pandian rising day by day but Naveen Patnaik seems unmoved and seems acting only to the tune of this IAS Officer putting everyone in backseat.
Since the last election in 2019, the 2000-batch IAS officer has become much more than a cog in the state machinery. He is now the main attraction at rallies usually led by the chief minister, announcing packages and glad-handing voters. He juggles both the steel frame and Instagram with equal ease. He has the unthinkable task of delivering the sixth term for Patnaik. The Patnaik-Pandian power combo is moving the needle in Odisha
Originally from Tamil Nadu, V Karthikeyan Pandian speaks fluent Odia, and is one half of a power couple. His wife, Sujata R Karthikeyan, is an Odisha-born IAS officer, serving as the secretary in the Mission Shakti department.
