Amid various speculation about VK Pandian next step after voluntary resignation, he is now the chairman of Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet Minister. An order issued by Odisha's General Administration and Public Grievance department reads as "V K Pandian is hereby appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet Minister. Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister." Earlier various media reports speculated Pandian joining Biju Janata Dal that is the ruling party of Odisha in a bigger role ahead of the 2024 Assembly Polls. VK Pandian is a 2000 batch IAS officer, who started his career as Dharmagarh sub-collector and later served as Collector of different districts, joined the CMO in 2011and remained there for the last 12 years. He was the private secretary to the Chief Minister of Odisha. He was made the 5T secretary in 2019.