"VK Pandian, a close associate of Naveen Patnaik, announces his resignation from politics, stating 'I Am Sorry If...'"

VK Pandian, who left the civil service to join the BJD last November, has released a video message.

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the BJD's unexpected defeat in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, VK Pandian, a former IAS officer and close aide to BJD leader Naveen Patnaik, announced his departure from active politics. Pandian, who left civil service and joined the BJD in November last year, shared a video message reflecting on his journey. He spoke of his humble origins, childhood dream of joining the IAS, and the deep affection he received from the people of Odisha since his arrival.

Pandian expressed honor in working with Naveen Patnaik, emphasizing the inspiration drawn from Patnaik's leadership and commitment to Odisha. He highlighted their achievements across various sectors, from health and education to infrastructure and heritage projects. Despite his efforts, Pandian acknowledged that he may not have effectively countered negative political narratives about his influence within the BJD, which contributed to the party's electoral setbacks.

Pandian clarified his intent in joining politics was solely to support Naveen Patnaik, without any personal ambition for political positions. He addressed the perception of him being an "outsider," which was leveraged by the BJP during their campaign, influencing the election outcomes. Speculations about him being Patnaik's political heir were dismissed by the senior leader.

Reflecting on his 12 years of dedicated service, Pandian stated he owned no significant property beyond what he inherited and valued the goodwill of the people of Odisha above all. He expressed regret if his involvement had contributed to the BJD's losses and apologized to the party members. Pandian concluded by pledging his continued prayers for Odisha's prosperity and gratitude towards Naveen Patnaik.

Earlier, Naveen Patnaik defended Pandian against the criticisms, reiterating that Pandian was not designated as his successor and emphasizing that the people of Odisha would determine the future leadership.