Naveen Won’t Leave Pandian Even if BJD Splits: Patasani

Bhubaneswar: Amid the growing internal rift within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), former Member of Parliament and veteran party leader Prasanna Patasani has claimed that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will never sever ties with his close aide and former IAS officer VK Pandian — even if the party splits into multiple factions.

Patasani, a founding member of the BJD and a trusted associate of Patnaik for over two decades, said the current turmoil within the regional party is a result of Pandian’s increasing control and interference in party affairs.

“The party is divided because of Pandian. I was the first to raise my voice against him, but no one paid attention. Despite that, I continued to work among the people,” Patasani said while speaking to the media. “Now, several BJD leaders are openly rebelling and speaking out against him.”

When asked about the relationship between Patnaik and Pandian, the five-time MP from Bhubaneswar responded, “Naveen can never leave Pandian. I cannot disclose what I have seen in their relationship.”

He further alleged that Pandian often intimidated party leaders who dared to oppose him and took punitive action against them. “Now that the BJD is no longer in power, the fear of Pandian has started to fade, and party leaders are beginning to speak up,” he added.

Patasani, who was elected to the Lok Sabha and Odisha Legislative Assembly a total of nine times on BJD tickets, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being denied a ticket by the BJD in both the 2019 and 2024 elections. He represented the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014.

The remarks come at a time when internal dissent in the BJD continues to grow, raising questions about the party’s unity and future leadership strategy.