VK Pandian, From Odisha Former Bureaucrat To Cabinet Rank (image: twitter.com/SagarKiruba)

IVK Pandian, the former private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and his close aide has been appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of a cabinet minister on Tuesday. The new development came within 24 hours after Mr Pandian took voluntary retirement from the government service.

Mr Pandian, a 2000-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer began his career as the sub-collector of Dharmagarh in the Odisha”s Kalahandi district in 2002. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, he joined the Chief Minister”s Office (CMO) in 2011 as Mr Patnaik”s private secretary, the most powerful role in the state held by a bureaucrat.

After 2019 Assembly election, when Mr Patnaik took oath as the Chief Minister for the fifth time, Mr Pandian has been given the position as “5T Secretary,” an initiative aim to bring transparency and transformational steps in the government departments in Odisha. Over the course of years, Mr Pandian emerged as the influential intermediary between chief minister and his team in official matters.

Mr Pandian has been the target of criticism for the Congress and BJP. The opposition accuses him for misusing his position for serving political goals. He has also at the centre of many controversies, and Mr Pandian”s tour to 30 districts of Odisha using the state chopper was a recent one.

Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka,  said on X that he won”t be surprised if Mr Pandian took charge as CM of Odisha, “such is the power structure in Odisha.”

Won”t be surprised if Mr Pandian takes charge as Chief Minister of Odisha before next General Elections – such is the power structure in Odisha, no one has clue what”s happening but everyone knows who”s controlling. VRS approved in 3 days during holidays – Super Fast #PandianVRS

— Saptagiri Ulaka (@saptagiriulaka) October 23, 2023

It was on Tuesday, Odisha”s General Administration and Public Grievance Department order said that former IAS officer VK Pandian has been appointed as the chairman of the state government”s 5T (Transformation Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha scheme.