Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Known for his tongue in cheek statements, senior BJD leader Damodar Rout today sneered at the Chief Minister’s private secretary VK Pandian by saying that he does not know the official.

Replying to a media query on whether Pandian is de-facto CM of the State, Rout stated, “Who is Pandian? I believe there is no "second power centre" and the Chief Minister is guided by none.”

Further taking a jibe at the official, the veteran BJD leader stated that the State Secretariat has more than 4,000 staff and Pandian might be one of them. “I have not come across Pandian and don’t know him,” Rout said.

“I have been a minister several times but never had anything to do with clerks. There are 50 employees in the CMO and VK Pandian is one of them; I do not understand why is he being given so much importance?” the senior BJD leader asked.

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