BJP Leader Prasanna Patasani Blames VK Pandian for BJD Government’s Fall in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, October 15, 2024: Senior BJP leader and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Prasanna Patasani on Tuesday openly blamed former bureaucrat VK Pandian for the fall of the 24-year-old BJD government in Odisha. Patasani, who has held multiple terms as both a Lok Sabha MP and a state assembly MLA under the BJD banner, claimed that Pandian’s influence within the party led to his departure and ultimately the government’s downfall.

Speaking at a press conference, Patasani said, “I was forced to leave BJD because of VK Pandian, and it is his influence that caused the popular government under Naveen Patnaik to be unseated. As a founding member, it was painful to part ways with the party, but I had no choice. After leaving BJD, I joined the BJP.”

Patasani, who was a close associate of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his years in the BJD, emphasized that the party’s chances of regaining power in Odisha remain slim as long as Pandian remains in a key position.

His remarks come in the backdrop of recent political upheaval in the state, with opposition parties criticizing Pandian’s growing influence in the BJD’s decision-making process. Pandian, who was once Patnaik’s trusted private secretary, entered politics after retiring from the civil services and has since become a controversial figure in Odisha’s political landscape.

Patasani’s statements have further fueled the ongoing debate about Pandian’s role within the BJD and his impact on the party’s future prospects.