THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bhubaneswar, Nov 27: In the presence of party leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, former bureaucrat V K Pandian today formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at the Naveen Nivas.
Pandian took voluntary retirement
The situation arose following Pandian’s voluntary retirement from the Indian Civil Services on October 23. Subsequently, the Centre granted approval to Pandian’s voluntary retirement, leading to his appointment as the chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and ‘Nabin Odisha’ in the Odisha government.
Following his voluntary retirement, there was speculation about Pandian’s potential entry into politics in Odisha.
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Pandian’s inclusion significant for BJD
Pandian’s inclusion in the BJD is notable and important for the party’s preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls next year. The party is actively reinforcing its organizational structures in different constituencies to uphold its successful track record in Odisha. Pandian had previously attended meetings to examine development initiatives in every district of Odisha.
Tamil Nadu native Pandian a 2000 batch IAS
Native to Tamil Nadu, Pandian is an IAS official from the 2000 batch. He started out as a Dharmagarh sub-collector before moving on to become the collector for several different districts. He began working for the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in 2011, and for the previous 12 years, he served as the Chief Minister’s private secretary.
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Criticised by Opposition earlier for involvement in politics
During his time serving as the Chief Minister’s private secretary and 5T Secretary, Pandian came under fire from the Opposition for allegedly participating in politics while still working for the government in civil service.
He garnered criticism earlier this year for undertaking extensive tours and speaking at large public events in multiple districts of the state.
