V.K. Pandian | Power player
1 year, 2 months ago

V.K. Pandian | Power player

The Hindu  

At dawn, senior bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary, in tracksuits, briskly converge at project sites to review progress and set completion targets — a distinctive routine during past years in Odisha. Insiders observe that Mr. Pandian’s sharp political acumen, in addition to his routine official works and ability to design welfare programmes, earned him the confidence of Mr. Patnaik. Mr. Pandian headed the initiative accruing higher administrative power to review projects cutting across all departments. Though Mr. Pandian never spoke of his political ambitions, the BJD and the Opposition parties knew that he was involved in formulating the party’s electoral strategies. Political observers say it is a matter of time before Mr. Pandian would openly shed his inhibition and assume a greater role in the government and the party.

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History of this topic

VK Pandian retires from politics following party's defeat in Odisha elections
7 months ago

VK Pandian retires from politics following party's defeat in Odisha elections

New Indian Express  

BHUBANESWAR: Bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian, Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik’s closest aide and confidant, on Sunday announced his retirement from active politics in what probably was one of the shortest political careers that lasted just seven months. Five days after the regional party was voted out of power by a mandate that was overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP, Pandian …

‘VK Pandian not my successor’: Naveen Patnaik says people to choose his ‘heir'
7 months ago

‘VK Pandian not my successor’: Naveen Patnaik says people to choose his ‘heir'

Hindustan Times  

In his first reaction after losing the Odisha assembly election, Naveen Patnaik, the outgoing chief minister who missed out on what would have been his sixth consecutive term in office, on Saturday defended his close aide VK Pandian, saying that the bureaucrat-turned-politician was not his successor. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with VK Pandian “The people of Odisha would …

Naveen Patnaik defends Pandian, says he is a person of integrity
7 months ago

Naveen Patnaik defends Pandian, says he is a person of integrity

Hindustan Times  

Biju Janata Dal president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday defended his close aide VK Pandian amid rising clamour within the party over the latter’s role during the recently concluded Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and his close aide VK Pandian. I repeat that the people of Odisha will decide on my …

'Pandian not my successor, people will decide on this': Outgoing Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik
7 months ago

'Pandian not my successor, people will decide on this': Outgoing Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

India TV News  

Outgoing Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said that his close aide and BJD leader VK Pandian is not his "successor" adding that the people of the state would decide on this. During a conversation with reporters, Patnaik said, "I would like to say that Mr Pandian has also worked and helped in health, education, sports, and our program …

BJD’s Pandian accuses BJP of trying to break Odisha’s ruling party to grab power
8 months ago

BJD’s Pandian accuses BJP of trying to break Odisha’s ruling party to grab power

Hindustan Times  

Biju Janata Dal leader VK Pandian on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to break Odisha’s ruling party to grab power. Pandian, who is a key aide to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, criticised BJP’s manifesto for the state polls saying it makes tall but hollow promises. The BJD manifesto will focus on service and development.” He said Dharmendra …

VK Pandian's bureaucrat wife transferred after misuse of public office complaint
8 months ago

VK Pandian's bureaucrat wife transferred after misuse of public office complaint

India Today  

The Election Commission on Thursday ordered the immediate transfer of senior Odisha bureaucrat Sujata R Kartikeyan, wife of BJD leader V K Pandian, to a non-public dealing department, hours after BJP's complaint of alleged misuse of public office, sources said. The sources said Kartikeyan was shunted out with immediate effect following complaints of alleged misuse of public office. The BJP …

Odisha BJP targets Pandian, slams BJD’s ‘misrule and misdeed’
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Odisha BJP targets Pandian, slams BJD’s ‘misrule and misdeed’

The Hindu  

The Odisha BJP trained its guns on V.K. Pandian, a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as it launched a blistering attack on the Biju Janata Dal government by unveiling a catalogue of the administration’s ‘misrule and misdeed’. The BJP on Wednesday released an Odia booklet, titled ‘25 years’ box of sins’ levelling charges of corruption, misgovernance, anti-farmer …

VK Pandian Removed From The Odisha CMO’s Officials List
8 months, 4 weeks ago

VK Pandian Removed From The Odisha CMO’s Officials List

Deccan Chronicle  

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said the name of VK Pandian, the 5T initiative chairman, has been removed from the list of officials in Chief Minister’s Office, Odisha, following a complaint lodged by the BJP with the Election Commission of India. In a press release, BJP spokesman Anil Biswal said on April 4, his party had raised objection to …

V.K. Pandian, close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, won’t contest elections in 2024: BJD
1 year ago

V.K. Pandian, close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, won’t contest elections in 2024: BJD

The Hindu  

Putting all speculation to rest, V.K. Pandian, a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on December 15 told the Biju Janata Dal that he would not contest the Lok Sabha election or the Assembly election next year. After Mr. Pandian joined the BJD in November, there were rumours that the former IAS officer would contest elections. “At the …

PROFILE | V.K. Pandian: Odisha’s Chief Minister-in-waiting?
1 year ago

PROFILE | V.K. Pandian: Odisha’s Chief Minister-in-waiting?

The Hindu  

Published : Dec 14, 2023 11:00 IST - 7 MINS READ IAS officer V.K. “With the guidance of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, I will work for the people of Odisha in a dedicated, humble, and selfless manner,” Pandian said after joining the BJD. Pandian formally joined the Biju Janata Dal in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior …

VK Pandian Gets Cabinet Rank After Quitting IAS: Can He Succeed Naveen Patnaik?
1 year, 2 months ago

VK Pandian Gets Cabinet Rank After Quitting IAS: Can He Succeed Naveen Patnaik?

The Quint  

Do your bit to support our journalism. Just four days after he applied for voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Services, former Odisha cadre IAS officer V Karthikeyan Pandian has been appointed to a Cabinet rank position directly reporting to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. Pandian has been given charge of the 5T or Five Transformational Initiatives and the Nabin Odisha …

Odisha Bureaucrat VK Padian Rises To Ranks Of Cabinet Minister Hours After Voluntary Retirement Ahead Of Polls
1 year, 2 months ago

Odisha Bureaucrat VK Padian Rises To Ranks Of Cabinet Minister Hours After Voluntary Retirement Ahead Of Polls

ABP News  

Former Odisah bureaucrat, VK Pandian, rose to the ranks of cabinet minister hours after taking voluntary retirement on Tuesday. The former private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was inducted in the cabinet within 24 hours after he took voluntary retirement from government service. Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister,” the General Administration and Public Grievance Department …

Day after quitting IAS, Odisha Chief Minister’s aide V.K. Pandian takes up key roles
1 year, 2 months ago

Day after quitting IAS, Odisha Chief Minister’s aide V.K. Pandian takes up key roles

The Hindu  

Odisha politics, otherwise dubbed quiet and monotonous for 25 years of domination by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is set for an exciting and raucous phase as the CM’s long-time private secretary V.K. Mr. Pandian, no stranger in Odisha’s public life, has served as the private secretary to Odisha CM for 12 years accounting more than half of his entire service …

VK Pandian gets Odisha Cabinet minister rank after voluntary retirement as CM Patnaik's private secretary
1 year, 2 months ago

VK Pandian gets Odisha Cabinet minister rank after voluntary retirement as CM Patnaik's private secretary

India TV News  

IAS officer VK Pandian got Odisha Cabinet minister rank a day after voluntary retirement as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's private secretary on Tuesday. Earlier, Pandian took voluntary retirement from government service amid buzz over his induction into the Patnaik Cabinet on Monday. Pandian joined the Chief Minister's Office in 2011, and since then, he has been Patnaik's private secretary. After …

The rise of VK Pandian, from an IAS officer to Naveen Patnaik's right-hand man
1 year, 2 months ago

The rise of VK Pandian, from an IAS officer to Naveen Patnaik's right-hand man

India Today  

Former bureaucrat VK Pandian joined Odisha Chief Minister's Naveen Patnaik's party, the Biju Janata Dal, on Monday. Reports say during his posting in Ganjam, Pandian became close to Chief Minister Patnaik and has served as his private secretary since 2011. After Patnaik became the chief minister for the fifth time in 2019, Pandian was given the additional responsibility of the …

Opinion | The importance of being VK Pandian: Road ahead for ex-IAS officer
1 year, 2 months ago

Opinion | The importance of being VK Pandian: Road ahead for ex-IAS officer

India Today  

The die is cast. Firstly, CM Naveen Patnaik needs to make an announcement regarding VK Pandian's future role. Thirdly, if Naveen Patnaik gives VK Pandian a significant role in the BJD, the former IAS officer must receive unwavering support from all party leaders, both veterans and newcomers. VK Pandian would not be the first IAS officer to join electoral politics …

V.K Pandian, private secretary to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, takes voluntary retirement
1 year, 2 months ago

V.K Pandian, private secretary to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, takes voluntary retirement

The Hindu  

V. K Pandian, the all powerful private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has taken voluntary retirement from All India Civil Services, fueling speculation for his full-time plunge into State politics. “In reference to letter No.GAD-SER1-PERS-0100-2014 dated 20.10.2023 from Government of Odisha on the above mentioned subject, I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for …

V. K. Pandian, Odisha CM’s private secretary, attacked with ink
1 year, 4 months ago

V. K. Pandian, Odisha CM’s private secretary, attacked with ink

The Hindu  

Ink was thrown at V. K. Pandian, influential bureaucrat and private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, during his tour to Puri district on Saturday. Puri Collector Samarth Verma, who was accompanying Mr. Pandian, also received ink stains on the campus of UGS College, Satyabadi, about 20 km from district headquarter town of Puri. In a fiery editorial on …

V.K. Pandian, Odisha’s influential bureaucrat
1 year, 6 months ago

V.K. Pandian, Odisha’s influential bureaucrat

The Hindu  

June 29, 2023 12:15 am | Updated 12:49 am IST Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s most trusted bureaucrat, V.K. Recently, based on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Aparajita Sarangi and BJP State President Manmohan Samal, the Department of Personnel and Training urged the Odisha Chief Secretary to address Mr. Pandian’s alleged violations of The All India Services Rules. …

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