Bhubaneswar (Odisha) : In a significant development in Odisha's political landscape, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer V K Pandian, who was once a close aide to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been appointed as the Chairman of the 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin (New) Odisha with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. This announcement came through an official notification issued on Tuesday, just a day after reports surfaced about Pandian's voluntary retirement from government service.
V K Pandian, a seasoned bureaucrat belonging to the 2000-batch of the Odisha cadre, had decided to take voluntary retirement from his government service, a move that raised eyebrows and fuelled speculation about his next steps in the state's political landscape. Following this development, the General Administration and Public Grievance Department revealed that Pandian would now work directly under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, further solidifying his position in the state's political hierarchy.
Pandian's journey in the Odisha bureaucracy began in 2002 when he assumed the role of sub-collector in Dharmagarh, located in the Kalahandi district. His dedication and competence soon earned him promotions, and in 2005, he was appointed as the collector of Mayurbhanj district. In 2007, he was entrusted with the important role of collector in Ganjam. It was during his tenure in Ganjam that he forged a close working relationship with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who hails from the same district.
In 2011, Pandian transitioned from being a district collector to serving in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), becoming Naveen Patnaik's private secretary. His role as a trusted aide and confidant to the Chief Minister played a pivotal role in shaping his career trajectory.
