Bhubaneswar: Enthused over the formal entry of V K Pandian into Biju Janata Dal (BJD), senior party leaders on Monday said it would not only further strengthen the organisation but also accelerate development of Odisha as a whole.
The people of the state will immensely benefit with Pandian joining BJD, several senior leaders said soon after the Nabin Odisha and 5T Chairman was inducted into BJD by party supremo and Chief Minister Naven Patnaik.
Speaking to reporters, senior BJD leader and former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the formal induction of Pandian will definitely give a further boost to the party’s development perspective.
Stating that Pandian had been serving the people of Odisha as a bureaucrat, Mishra said the former IAS officer will work for taking forward Naveen Patnaik’s vision for the development of the state. Known for his efficiency, Pandian has been working with the CM and his presence in the party will benefit all, he said.
In his response, senior leader and MP Amar Patnaik said Pandian’s induction into BJD will not only strengthen the party but also give further momentum to the process of development in the state.
Stating that the agenda of the Chief Minister as well as of Pandian is development, Patnaik said the aim is to ensure that Odisha is transformed into the best state in the country by 2036.
Describing Pandian as a true disciple of the Chief Minister, BJD’s organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das said the devotion and dedication of Pandian for Naveen and the state is absolute.
Describing Pandian as very efficient, former Minister Sanjay Das Burma said the former bureaucrat’s vast experience and efficiency will go a long way in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state.
Former Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said the induction of Pandian into BJD will benefit both the party as well as the state.
Hailing Pandian as an ‘asset’ for the party and the state, former MLA Priyadarshi Mishra said the ex-bureaucrat’s administrative experience will benefit all.
Welcoming Pandian’s induction into the party, senior BJD leader and former Minister Arun Saoo said the former IAS officer possesses exception qualities and rare talents which will play a significant role in giving further pace to the state’s development.
However, leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were critical of Pandian’s entry into BJD terming the move as a setback for Odia pride. BJP’s national vice-president Baijayant Panda said the soul of late Biju Patnaik, who was a proud Odia, must be in terrible agony seeing that not a single person from 4.5 crore Odia people could be found to run the party which was formed after his name.
BJP’s Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal said Pandian’s induction into BJD will have no impact on state politics as he was secretly working for the BJD earlier also. Now he will work openly for BJD, he said.