VK Pandian Takes on influential role in Odisha Government under CM Naveen Patnaik

Former IAS officer V K Pandian, a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been appointed as the Chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of a cabinet minister. This move comes shortly after Pandian's request for voluntary retirement from government service was approved.

Pandian will work directly under Chief Minister Patnaik, and his appointment is expected to enhance the implementation of the 5T initiative aimed at bringing transparency and teamwork to government departments in Odisha.

V K Pandian, who joined the Odisha CMO in 2011, has been a trusted lieutenant of Naveen Patnaik and played a key role in the state's administration. His career as a bureaucrat began in the Punjab cadre, but it took a significant turn when he secured the Odisha cadre following his marriage to Odia IAS officer Sujata Rout.

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Pandian's tenure

Pandian has held influential roles, including serving as the private secretary to Chief Minister Patnaik for over a decade. After the 2019 Assembly polls, he was appointed as the 5T Secretary, where he intervened in various government projects, making him a significant intermediary in government matters.

However, Pandian's tenure has not been without controversy. He embarked on a tour of all 30 districts of Odisha using the state chopper, which led to allegations that these tours resembled rallies of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). This raised questions about their nature and intent, and opposition parties sought punitive action against him.

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Pandian's swift approval of voluntary retirement and his influential position have fueled speculation about his future in Odisha politics, with some suggesting he might even become the Chief Minister before the next elections.

His role and the 5T initiative aim to streamline the government's functioning and make it more efficient and responsive to the needs of the people in Odisha.