‘Pandian-raj’ still prevalent: Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Das

Political storm brews in Odisha as the retirement of Sujata Rout Karthikeyan from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) stokes allegations that undue influence was wielded by former IAS officer and her husband VK Pandian, sources said on Tuesday.

Also Read: Odisha govt rejects leave extension of VK Pandian’s wife IAS Sujata R Karthikeyan

Sujata’s swift voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) acceptance by the Central Government, just a day after its application, has drawn sharp criticism from political adversaries.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Bhakta Charan Das has alleged a covert alliance between the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting that Pandian, a trusted advisor to the BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, still maintains substantial clout in the State’s politics.

Odisha PCC chief says this

“I would like to praise Pandian (the former Odisha-cadre IAS officer) by saying waah! waah!! How else he was able to get everything done during the previous government, and now in the current government?” the Odisha PCC chief questioned.

Both BJD and BJP have repudiated these claims, asserting no improper conduct.

The rapid approval of Karthikeyan’s VRS application, submitted on March 27 and sanctioned on March 28, is viewed by critics as indicative of Pandian’s power. BJD figures have countered these insinuations, stressing there was no exertion of any undue influence, and framing the quick VRS processing as routine rather than remarkable.

“We have one leader in the party (BJD), and he is Naveen Patnaik. Hence, what is there in discussing anything else? If he (Pandian) had committed any mistake, they (the BJP-led Central government) should not have accepted his VRS application. They should have initiated actions against him instead and sent him to jail,” BJD leader Mahesh Sahoo stated.

On the other hand, the state’s Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan dismissed the Congress’s allegations, pointing instead to the violence witnessed during a Congress rally as a more pressing issue.

“When an official applies for VRS, who has no departmental proceedings pending against him/her, the application is usually not objected to,” the Law Minister expressed.

Sujata’s administrative works were recently discussed in the Assembly deliberations, particularly concerning the Panchayati Raj department.

Queries linger on Sujata’s sudden decision for VRS, with conjecture over potential political aspirations despite assurances to the contrary. Her move follows her resumption of duty with the Finance Department after a six-month leave.

Internal dynamics within BJD reveal signs of unease and bickering, with some party factions attributing centralised decision-making to Pandian’s proximity to Naveen Patnaik.

While dissenting voices emerge, others, including former Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, extol the administrative capabilities of Pandian on social media platforms.

Amidst these political undercurrents, senior BJD leader Ashok Panda appealed directly to Naveen Patnaik during Utkal Dibas festivities, underscoring a chasm in party unity.

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As advocacy and allegations hover, the implications for Pandian and Karthikeyan’s future remain a focal point, exploring the continuing narrative of Odisha’s political landscape.

Reported By: Manil Moharana, Debasish Mohanty, Bibartan Panda, Jagdish Das, Rashmiranjan Das