‘VK Pandian didn’t want Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik’: Former BJD MP Prasanna Patasani makes explosive revelations

VK Pandian didn't want Bharat Ratna to be conferred upon former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, said former MP and senior BJP leader Prasanna Patasani on Thursday in an exclusive interview in OTV's Khola Katha. 

“He (Pandian) had told me over the phone not to demand the ‘Bharat Ratna’ award for Biju Babu in the Parliament. Naveen’s sister Gita Mehta was famous all over the world as an eminent writer. However, Pandian had threatened me over the phone not to demand for sending Mehta to Rajya Sabha,” said the former MP.

During the interview, he also trained his gun at BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik and some senior leaders. 

“When BJD was founded, where was Pandian? We had struggled a lot to form the party and he planned to take advantage of it. Pandian drove away many senior leaders from the party. What happened to him? One who wants to harm others, gets harmed by himself,” said Patasani.

Pointing fingers towards BJD’s organizational Secretary, Patasani said that Pranab Prakash Das took four tickets in the last election.

“Even Das’ mother stood as a candidate. When I didn’t get a ticket, why I would ask for four tickets? It is a pure lie,” said Patasani.

Differentiating between former BJD leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra and Pandian, Patasani said, “Though Pyari babu was clipping wings, his good quality was that he used to keep good relationships with the MLAs and he was not that much arrogant. However, Pandian developed so much ego and Lord Jagannath couldn’t bear it,” said the veteran leader.

“Naveen Patnaik made a big mistake by giving clean chit to Pandian by saying that he has done a lot for the State and the party. Naveen babu is not like his old shelf. Naveen babu has punished everybody including Pyari babu in the past. However, why did he speak like this in this case (Pandian)?” asked Patasani.