Who is VK Pandian, Odisha’s power player in new role under CM Naveen Patnaik?

Former IAS officer and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide V K Pandian has been appointed Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of a cabinet minister, an official notification said on Tuesday.

The development comes less than 24 hours after Pandian’s request for voluntary retirement from government service was approved. Pandian will work directly under chief minister Patnaik.

“V K Pandian is hereby appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet Minister. Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister,” said a notification by the general administration and public grievance department.

Pandian applied for VRS on October 20, people familiar with the matter told HT.

Who is VK Pandian?

The 2000 batch IAS officer, who started his career as Dharmagarh sub-collector in Kalahandi district, joined the Odisha CMO in 2011 and became the most trusted lieutenant of Naveen Patnaik. VK Pandian hails from Tamil Nadu and began his career as an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer in the Punjab cadre. However, his career took a significant turn when got Odisha cadre by virtue of his marriage to Odia IAS officer, Sujata Rout.

Emergence of VK Pandian key player in Odisha politics

Pandian’s most prominent role as a bureaucrat was serving as the private secretary to Patnaik, a position he has held for over a decade. This role granted him substantial influence within the power corridors of Odisha.

After the 2019 Assembly polls, Pandian’s stature grew as he was appointed the 5T Secretary. The 5T initiative aims to bring transparency and teamwork to government departments in Odisha. Although there is no official 5T department, Pandian used this position to intervene in all government projects. Over the years, ministers and MLAs have queued up to seek an audience with the chief minister, making him a key intermediary in government matters.

Controversy

Pandian has been at the centre of a raging controversy as he embarked on a whirlwind tour to all 30 districts of Odisha using the state chopper. The opposition parties have alleged that these tours appeared more like rallies of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), raising questions about their nature and intent.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi who petitioned the DoPT seeking punitive action against the 49-year-old officer over alleged violation of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, had alleged that he was crossing the red line and should formally join politics after resigning from IAS.

Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said that he would not be surprised if Pandian took charge as the chief minister of Odisha before the next 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,” he said in a post on X.