The close aide of former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patanaik, VK Pandian retires from active politics on Sunday.
Announcing his resignation on video, Pandian said, ‘Now consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJD’s loss’.
This announcement comes days after BJD got defeated in simultaneous Odisha assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
This retirement also comes around the time, when Patanaik declared, that Pandian isn’t his ‘successor’ and it should be decided by people.
Meanwhile, bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has recently brought an end to BJD’s continuous rule led by Naveen Patanaik.
Taking advantage of anti-incumbency, BJP, carefully planned campaign strategy, which centered on emotional issues like Odia asmita (pride), people’s aspirations and PM Modi’s decisive leadership.
In the 147-member assembly, the BJP secured 78 seats, followed by the BJD with 51 seats, while Congress and the CPM won 14 and 1 seats respectively. Later, three independents completed the tally of 147.
But in Odisha Lok Sabha polls, BJP made history, as it managed to increase the tally to 20 from 8 seats in 2019 elections.
Meanwhile, BJD didn’t win one seat, as all 21 of their candidates lost compared to 12 candidates lost in 2019 elections.
Since, then BJD under Naveen Patanaik has been under existential crisis, as the party dominated the state for 25 years.