The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha with chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s Man Friday V.K. Pandian leading it from the front.
The posters and banners appearing across the state also make it clear that Pandian is the man next to the chief minister in the party hierarchy even though he does not enjoy any position in the BJD. Pandian is a former bureaucrat and chairman of Nabin Odisha (a government welfare programme).
Earlier, the banners used to carry pictures of Naveen and his father Biju Patnaik. Now the banners carry the photos of Biju, Naveen and Pandian on the top and the other leaders, including ministers and MLAs, under them.
The banners and posters carry New Year greetings, messages and photos of the aspiring candidates for various Lok Sabha and Assembly seats.
On the issue of photos of Pandian at the top along with Naveen in the banners, Bhubaneswar (central) MLA Ananta Narayan Jena told The Telegraph: “There is nothing wrong. He is doing a great job for the party sacrificing his IAS job. His contribution to the party is immense.”
While Naveen Patnaik is touring districts, it’s Pandian who stands behind him and makes all decisions. Although he had pulled the strings from behind earlier, after joining the party, he is now taking the lead, giving political speeches.
