Resentment brews in BJD over growing interference of IAS officer

Bhubaneswar: Resentment over alleged meddling of V Karthikeyan Pandian, private secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in affairs of BJD is growing day by day.

After Baijayant Panda, Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh and Baishnab Charan Parida, another senior leader of BJD Nabin Nanda has expressed his displeasure over the way BJD is functioning. He alleged suggestions from Pandian have been affecting the party on different occasions.

"The CM is kept in dark which is why he has not been taking decisions properly," Nanda stated.

On Pandian's interference, Nanda said, "When someone is so close to the Chief Minister, it is obvious  his suggestions would carry significance. However, the suggestion should not affect party affairs." Some leaders have deserted the party unhappy over the interference from Pandian, which is not a good sign, he added.

The party will suffer if the same condition persists, Nanda stated.

Reacting to Nanda's remark, BJD vice president Surya Narayan Patro said, "Nabin Nanda had left the party long back."

"How to upkeep the party's discipline depends upon the party chief. Besides, all party members have been going by the party chief's decision," Patro said.

Later, Nanda reacted to Patro's statement through a tweet stating, "Since when I am not part of BJD; the minister should clarify whether I have been suspended or have quit the party."

Meanwhile, chipping in, the Opposition too added to the influence of Pandian on State politics and how it is affecting people.

Sarat Rout, senior Congress leader said, "When the CM is weak, definitely private secretary Pandian becomes powerful and takes decisions."

On the other hand, Suresh Pujari, BJP national secretary said, "The bureaucrat has become the power centre. Even Cabinet ministers fear to say anything in front of him."

"BJD MPs and MLAs have become frustrated as political leadership has failed to have any influence in the State," Pujari opined.

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