Bhubaneswar: BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today finally revealed that his close aide and second powerful leader in BJD, V K Pandian is not his successor.
“He is not my successor. I can’t understand these exaggerations. He is not standing for this election. I see all of these as exaggerations and falsehood,” the Chief Minister told a news agency ahead of the final phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls. .
“I have said the people of the state will decide the succession. That is the natural result of these things,” Shri Patnaik emphasised as he has often maintained his stand on the succession plan.
The Chief Minister said that leaders and workers of the party see how it is being run for the service of the people. The party will continue to do so in the future, he added.
Refuting the allegation that Shri Pandian is being placed above other BJD leaders, Naveen said, “I find all of this quite nonsensical.”
On being questioned if his close associate Shri Pandian acts as a gatekeeper and whether he takes all decisions on his behalf, the BJD Chief said, “That is ridiculous and I have said it often before. This is an old allegation and it holds no weight.”
On BJP making such accusations against his close confidant, Shri Patnaik suggested that such allegations stem from the BJP’s increasing desperation due to their declining popularity both in Odisha and nationally.
“I see it that they are getting more and more desperate, particularly as their popularity is waning in the country,” Patnaik asserted.
On the acrimonious verbal duel between BJD-BJP, the five-time Chief Minister said: “I have never shown acrimony to anyone in public life. When support is required, we will judge our appropriate position.”
Shri Patnaik said that he is not dependent on others, “He has all the powers to decide about decisions made by his party to the people before elections. I have always chaired Cabinet meetings. There is not a single Cabinet meeting that I have not chaired.”
The Chief Minister exuded confidence and predicted his party’s impressive show in the twin polls. “I see very handsome results in the state elections. We will form a solid government again in the state, and in Parliament, we will secure a very good majority,” he said.