With the BJP turning up the heat on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD over the growing influence of his aide and former bureaucrat V K Pandian, Patnaik on Thursday sought to make it clear that Pandian is not his “successor”, and speculation suggesting this is “an exaggeration”. "I can’t understand these exaggerations. You may have noticed that he is not even standing for elections,” said Patnaik while speaking to ANI in Bhubaneswar, when asked whether Pandian was being groomed to take over from him. Asked whether Pandian is his successor, he said, “He is not my successor. And I see all of this as exaggerations and falsehoods.” On whether his party has a succession plan, Patnaik reiterated that the successor “will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result in these things”. Responding to allegations made by his opponents that Pandian is now taking all key decisions on Patnaik’s behalf, the Odisha CM said this is “ridiculous” and an “old allegation that holds no weight”. In speeches by almost all key leaders, the BJP has sought to highlight that a native of Tamil Nadu is taking decisions for Odias. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted at a “conspiracy” behind Patnaik’s “deteriorating health condition” “The question now is whether there is a conspiracy behind the deteriorating health condition of Naveen babu. Whether the lobby, which has been enjoying power from behind the scenes in Odisha in the name of Naveen babu, has a hand in it,” Modi said. Though the PM did not mention anyone by name, his comments are ostensibly a reference to Pandian, whom he had earlier accused of capturing the CM’s office and residence. Though Pandian, who earlier served as Patnaik’s private secretary since 2011, has never claimed to be his political successor, on many occasions he has called the Odisha CM his “guru” and said he “follows his great values”. On whether he will be Patnaik’s “political successor”, Pandian, while speaking to The Indian Express recently, had said, “I live one day at a time; I don’t have long-term goals. I will work as long as I get a chance. I believe in karma.” On whether the recent acrimony during the campaign will prevent the BJD from offering issue-based support to the BJP in the future, Patnaik said he has never shown acrimony to anyone in public life. “When support is required, we will judge our appropriate position,” he said. “We will form a solid government again in the state, and in the Parliament, we will have a very good majority,” said Patnaik, adding that he “certainly hopes” to continue as CM for the next five years.
