'I'm Sorry If..': Naveen Patnaik's Aide VK Pandian Quits Politics Days After BJD's Debacle In Odisha Assembly Polls (VIDEO)

Naveen Patnaik's aide and BJD leader, VK Pandian, announced his retirement days after the BJD faced a rout in the Odisha assembly polls as well as the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Pandian was the ex-private secretary to Naveen Patnaik. The Tamil Nadu born former IAS officer was also absent from the meeting held by Naveen Patnaik where he met the BJD leaders on Saturday (June 8).

In a video released on Sunday (June 9), Pandian said that he has decided to withdraw himself from active politics.

Pandian also said that he had entered politics with the sole purpose to help his "mentor" Naveen Patnaik. He also apologised to the "BJD family and workers" and said that he continues to have his "guru" Naveen babu in his "breath".

Pandian, who is considered extremely close to Naveen Patnaik, faced criticism from several leaders in the BJD who questioned his growing influence in the party.

The recently concluded Odisha assembly elections resulted in a loss for the BJD and Naveen Patnaik, who was the chief minister of the state for 24 years. While the BJP won 78 seats out of the total 147 assembly seats, confortably crossing the majority mark, the BJD was reduced to 51 seats in the assembly. Patnaik himself won from Hinjili seat but lost from Kantabanji.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 20 seats in Odisha and the Congress was victorious on 1 seat. The BJD could not even open its account. Naveen Patnaik's statement after the poll results that Pandian was not his "political successor" in response to a question had sent the message that Pandian was not indispensable.