Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has dismissed a media report against former bureaucrat and his trusted aide, VK Pandian, as baseless and false. The report alleged that Pandian was attempting to strike a deal with the BJP to weaken the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. Despite Pandian’s silence on the matter, Patnaik came out to defend him.
“This is completely false, motivated, defamatory, and malicious. As I have stated earlier, Mr. Pandian has served the state and party with utmost dedication, efficiency, and integrity, and he is known and respected for the same,” Patnaik wrote on X.
According to The New Indian Express, the BJP has reached out to Naveen Patnaik for his party’s support in Parliament and in the upcoming elections for President and Vice-President of India. With the NDA losing its majority in the Rajya Sabha, it needs the backing of BJD’s nine members to pass bills.
The BJD stayed away from any national-level alliance during the Lok Sabha election and Assembly polls and lost power to BJP. The BJD has no MP in the Lok Sabha, but has a sizeable presence in the Rajya Sabha, underlining its importance for the BJP-led NDA in the Upper House. The BJD, which also has 51 seats in the Odisha legislative assembly, is also crucial for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections.
Patnaik’s party, which supported the BJP on many occasions in Parliament earlier, joined the Opposition as they staged a walkout over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address on July 3.
Sources revealed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently spoke with Patnaik, who agreed to support the NDA in exchange for the BJP’s assurance not to entertain Pandian, the report alleged.
Pandian, the former confidant of the BJD chief, has been seeking an appointment with Shah through a key Cabinet minister who holds multiple portfolios, according to the NIE. Despite several visits to Delhi over the past few weeks, Pandian has not been able to meet Shah. He has reportedly conveyed to the BJP leadership that he could split the BJD and help the BJP expand in Odisha.
Although the BJP won most seats in the recent assembly elections, the BJD received more votes. Pandian has offered to help the BJP increase its support in the state. However, it appears the BJP leadership has opted to align with Patnaik and distance itself from Pandian.
Last month, Patnaik protected Pandian from criticism within the BJD with supporters blaming Pandian for the party’s poor performance in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Pandian soon announced his retirement from active politics.
