The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Naveen Patnaik

  • VK Pandian Withdraws From Active Politics After BJD’s Defeat, Says ‘Sorry If Campaign Narrative Against Me…’ |

    Senior BJD leader V K Pandian, a close aide to Odisha’s outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik, announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from active politics following the regional party’s defeat in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The former bureaucrat who switched to politics said in a video message, “Now I consciously decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone in this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play the Biju Janata Dal’s loss. My apologies to the entire Biju Parivaar including all the ‘karmis’ for this.”

    Pandian claimed that the only reason he entered politics was to support Patnaik, which is why he chose not to run for office. After winning 78 seats in the 147-member assembly, the BJP overthrew the BJD’s 24-year rule in Odisha. Although the Congress won 14 seats and the CPI (M) one, the Patnaik-led party secured 51 seats. The BJP secured 20 seats in the state’s Lok Sabha, while the Congress won one, leaving the BJD without a single seat. “I will always keep Odisha in core of my heart and my Guru Naveen Babu in my breath,” he added.

    Earlier on Saturday, BJD leader and former Odisha chief minister said that criticism of his aide V K Pandian for the party’s disaster was “unfortunate” and that he performed a “great job.” This was Patnaik’s first remarks about Pandian following the shocking election defeat.


    Patnaik said, “He (Pandian) is a person of integrity and honesty and should be remembered for that,” in the face of intense anger from party leaders and members who held the Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrats responsible for the party’s dismal election performance.

    Nonetheless, the five-term chief minister reaffirmed in the same sentence that Pandian was not to be his successor and that the people of Odisha would select their own leader.

  • Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Responds To PM Modi’s Health Concerns, Says ‘I’m Perfectly Fine’ |

    A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to form a panel to probe the “sudden” deterioration of Naveen Patnaik’s health, the Odisha Chief Minister on Thursday said that he is “perfectly fine”. Biju Janta Dal (BJD) supremo dismissed the “concerns” expressed by PM Modi and said that he has been actively campaigning in the State for the last month. The Prime Minister on Wednesday claimed a “conspiracy” behind Patnaik’s failing health. PM Modi also said that a full majority government would be formed at the Centre for the third time in a row after a five-decade gap.

    In an interview with news agency ANI aired on Thursday, Patnaik said that if the PM was so concerned about his health, he would have called him and inquired about his health instead of stating it loudly at a public meeting.

    “If the Prime Minister was so concerned about my health, even recently, he said that I’m a good friend of his; all he needed was to pick up the telephone and inquire about my health instead of stating it loudly at a public meeting three times yesterday. My health is perfectly fine. As you can see, I’ve been campaigning for the last month all over the state,” the Odisha CM said.

    #WATCH | On PM Modi’s statement ‘if BJP comes to power in Odisha, a special committee will be formed to investigate Naveen Babu’s deteriorating health’, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says “All I have to say is that if PM Modi is so concerned about my health, all he needed was to pick… pic.twitter.com/OkmHdZ1Lrq
    — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

    “And instead of the Prime Minister just picking up the telephone and asking me about my health, he has stated it loudly at a public meeting. This means that all he’s trying to do is garner votes during election time,” he said.

    Addressing a poll rally in Baripada for the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha segment, which goes to vote on June 1, PM Modi said there is a “conspiracy” behind Naveen Patnaik’s sudden deterioration of health and that he would form a committee to look into the Chief Minister’s medical history.
     
    Patnaik claimed that rumours about his health have been spread by BJP leaders for the past decade, and that he has no health issues.
     
    “This rumour has been spread by BJP members in Delhi for the past ten years, with little effect on me. And that is basically all I have to say about it. I have no health problems at all. I am in excellent health. I repeat: I’ve been campaigning for the last month in a very hot season, and I’m fine,” the BJD leader said.
     
    When asked about a viral video showing visible tremors in Patanik’s hand during an election rally, the Odisha chief minister responded, “It’s not a medical condition at all. A visiting BJP chief minister exaggerated the situation for no apparent reason.

  • Odisha’s Political Puzzle: Who Will Lead BJD After Naveen Patnaik? |

    The Biju Janata Dal’s reliance on 77-year-old Naveen Patnaik in Odisha presents a significant opening for the BJP. Amidst the fervor of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, BJP leaders have stirred a fresh political discourse, questioning Patnaik’s 24-year tenure, his age, health, activism, and potential successors.

    In Odisha, voting is underway for both the 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik’s personal charisma stands as a major asset for BJD amidst the extensive elections spanning four phases between May 13 and June 1. His bid for a historic sixth term as Chief Minister looms large. However, the looming question remains: who will succeed Patnaik? By introducing this uncertainty, the BJP has injected a new dynamic into Odisha’s political landscape.

    VK Pandian’s Non-Oriya Background Poses A Significant Challenge For BJD’s Continuity

    In response to such uncertainties, citizens in markets like Kadligarh in Sambalpur district express support for Naveen Babu but are uncertain about his successor. When asked about his longtime associate VK Pandian, concerns arise due to his non-Oriya background. These responses underscore Odisha’s current political trajectory and future challenges. Both the ruling BJD, under Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year stewardship, and the opposition BJP must confront this reality.

    BJP Struggles to Present a Viable Alternative to Naveen Patnaik

    Meanwhile, the BJP, having entered the campaign arena late after failed alliance talks with BJD, struggles to identify a figure in Odisha who can credibly challenge Naveen Patnaik’s dominance. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three visits to the state since the election announcement, the party has yet to showcase a clear leader or leadership group in Odisha.

    Patnaik Government’s Policies Mirror Modi Government’s Approach

    Similar to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Naveen Patnaik’s administration in Odisha has maintained a strong hold on the women’s vote bank through empowerment and welfare initiatives. Significant budget allocations have been directed towards healthcare, education, self-reliance, and justice. At the BJD’s silver jubilee celebrations in December 2022, Patnaik emphasized that the party’s longevity hinges on prioritizing women’s empowerment.

    BJD’s Commitment To Women’s Empowerment and Representation

    During the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, BJD MPs rallied support from other political factions for the Women’s Reservation Bill. The party has continued this momentum by fielding 33 percent women candidates in both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Patnaik’s personal appeal remains a potent political asset, bolstered by his anti-corruption stance.

    Naveen Patnaik’s Embrace Of Oriya Identity And Aspiration

    In response to BJP’s challenges, Naveen Patnaik has championed Odia aspirations and identity. Despite his accidental entry into politics, Patnaik, educated at Doon School and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, acknowledges Odisha’s unique linguistic heritage as the first linguistically defined state. Unlike many regional leaders, Patnaik has refrained from expanding his party beyond state borders.