VK Pandian Announces to Withdraw from Active Politics

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader VK Pandian on Sunday announced his decision to withdraw from active politics.

In a video statement, Pandian said that he had joined the Biju Janata Dal to assist his mentor Naveen Patnaik and had no desire for a specific political post or power.

Pandian said, “My only intent was to help him (Naveen Patnaik) as anyone would do for his mentor or family. I would like to set straight certain perceptions and narratives. Perhaps it has been my shortcoming that I have not been able to effectively counter some of these political narratives at the right time”.

He said, “I reiterate that I came to politics to help my mentor, Naveen Patnaik, ahead of the grueling elections, and I had no desire whatsoever for a specific political post or power. Therefore, I was neither a candidate nor was I holding any post in Biju Janata Dal”.

Pandian further said that for the last 12 years, he has tried to work from early in the morning till midnight, keeping Odisha and Naveen Babu as his focus.

“My intent of joining politics was only and only to assist Naveen Babu, and now, consciously, I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone in this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play with Biju Janata Dal’s loss. I apologize to the entire Biju Parivar,  including all the party workers for this”.

“I will always keep Odisha in the core of my heart and my guru Naveen Babu in my breath and pray to Lord Jagannath for their well-being and prosperity”, he said.