Bhubaneswar: Almost six months after joining the BJD, former bureaucrat and BJD leader VK Pandian on Sunday announced retirement from active politics.
In a video message posted on his Instagram account, he also apologised to people and BJD leaders and workers if they held him responsible for the electoral loss. “My intent of joining politics was only to assist Naveen babu and now consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJD’s loss.”
Pandian had earlier asserted that he would quit politics if party president Naveen Patnaik does not become the chief minister of Odisha for the sixth time in a row after the assembly elections. “You (BJP) say that there is BJP wave and wave for a change in Odisha, but I strongly say that if the chief minister (Patnaik) does not become the CM again, I will take sanyas from politics,” he had said while addressing a rally at Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district.
On Saturday, BJD president Naveen Patnaik had, however, termed the ongoing criticisms against Pandian as unfortunate and added that he did an “excellent job”. He also asserted that the former bureaucrat was not his successor. “There has been some criticism of Pandian. This is unfortunate. He joined the party and has not held any post. He did not contest the elections from any constituency. I have always clearly said when asked about my successor that it is not Pandian. I repeat again that the people of Odisha will decide my successor.”