BHUBANESHWAR: BJD leader V.K. Pandian asserts his party will win Odisha with a 3/4th majority, challenges BJP, and emphasises his commitment to the state.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and 5T chairman V.K. Pandian said that his party would form government in Odisha with a 3/4th majority and dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to declare its chief ministerial candidate who will contest against Naveen Patnaik. BJD also rejected the charge of opposition that the Constitution of the country was in danger, saying it was resilient and it would be a political blunder if anyone thought one could tinker with it.
He also said that the tag of an outsider being given to him by the BJP was baseless. Odisha is his ‘karmabhoomi’ as he has served the state for over 24 years and his children are Odia.
In an interview, Pandian, who quit his job as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and joined the BJD in November last year said, “I did not plan to enter politics. I had gone to Lingaraj Temple over 100 or 200 times in Bhubaneshwar but had never thought that I would be giving a political speech there ever,” exclaimed Pandian.
Explaining his unforeseen journey into Odisha’s politics, he said that as he started touring the state he felt that there was a connection he had with the people.
“I thought that the bureaucratic boundary should not stop me from going the extra mile for the people. So I held a discussion with my boss and guru Naveen Patnaik and entered politics,” said the senior BJD leader.
He also said that “Naveen Babu” was the epitome of integrity.
“I drive inspiration from him (Naveen Patnaik). I think it’s not about being tough but it’s about being truthful. It’s about bending or not bending, one should be truthful to do what is correct and without ego, that is what the Bhagavad Gita says. And the chief minister has no ego, that is what lightens the whole atmosphere. I believe will this will help in maintaining honesty and integrity in politics,” he said adding he hopes to be able to rise up to the same standard in his political life.
When asked about the Opposition’s charge against the ruling party that the Constitution and democracy are in danger, he said, “Indian Constitution is resilient and no one can do anything to it.”
“It will be the biggest political blunder if someone tinkers with the Constitution. I feel that there is no threat to the Indian Constitution,” he said.
He also asserted that the BJD would do better than in 2019 in the Lok Sabha elections this year.
When asked about the Opposition and the BJP referring to him as an “outsider”, he said, “They were all demanding that I should resign and join politics. What is the problem now? Now, I resigned from my job and joined politics. I am an Indian by birth and I am an Odia by birth, this has been my ‘karmabhoomi’ for over 24 years and both my children’s mother tongue is also Odia. My lord is Lord Jagannath and my guru is Naveen Babu. The love and the response I got from the people when I was touring all the constituencies is the reason for their nervousness. The people of Odisha will decide if I am an outsider or their own.”
About his statement of quitting politics, if BJD did not win, he said, “We will form the government with the three-fourth majority in the state and Naveen Babu will take oath on June 9. And if he does not win in the polls I will quit.”
Pandian said he challenges BJP, he asserts that there is no BJP ka hawa (no BJP wave) in the state but it is “Naveen babu ka hawa” (wave of Naveen Patnaik).
When asked about the Congress charge of the BJD being Team B of the BJP, he said, “They should first see the reality on the ground as the BJD and the BJP are competitors.”
He also emphasised that the BJP is hardly visible on 50 per cent of seats and the Congress hardly on 20 to 30 per cent of the seats in the state.
Targeting Union home minister, Amit Shah’s claim that BJP will increase their cadre in Odisha, He said that BJD does not consider BJP a competition
Praising BJD’s election promise of 100 units of free power, he said, “The BJD has promised free electricity for over 85 per cent of households. Looking at our revenue surplus of Rs 25,000 crore, Odisha is one of the few states with a revenue surplus. And this scheme will help the people a lot.”
Adding further Pandian highlights the scholarship scheme of Rs 1,000 crore per year and said that this scheme will help students in the state.
They can decide if they want to use that money for buying books, for transportation, or for paying their fees.