Odisha Politics: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has come out in support of his former colleague VK Pandian. Naveen Patnaik has denied the claim of a media report, which said that his former colleague VK Pandian had struck a deal with the BJP to defeat the BJD in the assembly elections.
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Monday (July 22) said in a post on microblogging site X that whatever is being said in the media about former bureaucrat Pandian is all false and baseless. Along with this, he also shared a media report, which claimed that Pandian had a deal with the BJP.
Served the party with dedication and honesty- Naveen Patnaik
Speaking to news agency ANI, Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik said that this is completely false, motivated, insulting and malicious. I have said earlier that Pandian has served the state and the party with full devotion, efficiency and honesty. He is known and respected for these qualities. VK Pandian, who was a bureaucrat before becoming a politician, “separated” from active politics in June this year after the Biju Janata Dal’s defeat in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha.
Announcing his decision to quit politics, Pandian had said that he would keep Odisha deep in his heart and ‘Guru Naveen Babu’ in his breath. During the campaign for the assembly elections, Pandian had said that he would quit politics if Naveen Patnaik did not become the chief minister for the sixth consecutive time.
This is completely false, motivated, defamatory and malicious. As I have stated earlier Mr Pandian has served the state and party with utmost dedication efficiency and integrity and he is known and respected for the same.@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/4cVZgVcxoD
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 22, 2024
BJP created history by winning the assembly elections for the first time in Odisha
This time the assembly and Lok Sabha ElectionsThe results of the elections surprised the Biju Janata Dal. The Bharatiya Janata Party created history by winning its first assembly elections in Odisha. The party won 78 out of 147 seats, while the Biju Janata Dal was reduced to only 51 seats. The BJP also won 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the BJD could not even open its account. Patnaik has also been unanimously elected as the president of the BJD parliamentary party.
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