Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the people in the State would decide on his successor.
Speaking to a news agency when asked about his successor, he said, “I have clearly said that it is not VK Pandian, a retired IAS officer. I repeat it again that the people of Odisha will decide my successor.”
He said there has been some criticism against Pandian and it is unfortunate. “Pandian joined the party and has not held any posts. He did not fight in these elections from any constituency,” he explained.
The tenure of the ruling BJD in Odisha came to an end after the BJP won the elections. Of the 147 Assembly constituencies, the BJP won 78 seats while BJD, which was in power since 2000, got 51 seats and Congress got only 14 seats.
Several BJD leaders said the party suffered a setback in the elections because of the dominant role played by Pandian, who worked as a private secretary to Patnaik.
