Bhubaneswar, June 6: VK Pandian, a Tamil Nadu-born IAS officer-turned BJD leader, who was allegedly untraceable after the regional party's shocking defeat, has left for New Delhi on the direction of party president Naveen Patnaik, informed BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra on Thursday.

VK Pandian is on Delhi visit as per the direction of party president Naveen Patnaik, says BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra #Odisha

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) June 6, 2024

Pandian, who always accompanied outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wherever he visited, distanced himself from public view since June 4.

Pandian was neither seen accompanying Naveen Patnaik to Raj Bhavan while the latter tendered his resignation, nor attended two meetings held by the BJD supremo with his party members, including the newly elected 51 MLAs, at Naveen Niwas yesterday.

On May 10, Pandian asserted that he would quit politics if BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik does not become Odisha Chief Minister this time. Patnaik has been Odisha CM for the past 24 years, completing five terms in a row.

It remains to see whether Pandian will quit politics as asserted publicly or his statement was just a political stunt.

The BJD managed to secure only 51 seats this time as compared to the 112 seats it got in the 2019 Assembly polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party wrested the power from BJD by winning 78 seats out of the 147-member Assembly.

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