• Source:JND
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Days after the results of the Odisha Assembly Election were announced, state outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said that Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader VK Pandian is not his ‘successor’ and pointed out that the people of the state would decide on this. The BJP secured an unprecedented victory by winning 20 out of the total 21 seats. The one seat was won by the Congress while the BJD failed to secure a single seat. 

“I would like to say that Mr Pandian has also worked and helped in health, education, sports, and our programme of temple restoration. Mr Pandian joined the party but has not had any posts. I have always clearly said that when they asked me about my successor, I said clearly that it was not Mr. Pandian. I repeat it. The people of Odisha will decide my successor,” Patnaik said, as quoted by news agency ANI. 

Patnaik also expressed gratitude towards the people of Odisha and said, "My deep gratitude to the people of Odisha, for blessing me time and again, showering me with their blessings. Also, I think that we have always tried to do an excellent job and we have much to be proud of in our government and our party."

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VK Pandian, an IAS officer of the 2000 batch, has served as private secretary to Patnaik for over two decades. In 2023, he joined the BJD after taking voluntary retirement from the bureaucracy. 

Earlier, the BJP accused Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian of wielding complete control over Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and running the show in the state. Patnaik founded the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in December 1997 as a breakaway faction from the Janata Dal.