Bhubaneswar, June 9: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide and BJD leader V K Pandian announced quitting active politics given his party's defeat in the recently held Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

Notably, he had promised during campaigning that he would quit politics if the BJD failed to win the election and his political mentor Naveen Patnaik was not sworn in as CM for the sixth consecutive time. 

"Now I announce my withdrawal from active politics. I tender my apologies to BJD workers for the defeat of the party due to a campaign against me. I also say sorry if I have hurt any body during campaigning," Pandian said in a video message.

Pandian had joined BJD on November 7, 2024 after giving resigntion as an IAS officer. He served as privae secretry to Chief Minister for over 10 years. He also held 5T Secretary simultanously for a few years. After joining the BJD, he was appointed as Chairman of New Odisha programme. 

Following defeat of the BJD in the LS and Assemly elections, party workers opposed Pandian while blaming him to be the reason behind the poll debacle. Even though BJD president gave a clean chit to him, it didn't have any impact on BJD workers.   

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