On Monday, the Central government granted approval for the voluntary retirement of VK Pandian, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 2000 Odisha cadre. Pandian, who has been serving as the private secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been at the center of attention recently.
The Department of Personnel and Training communicated this decision to the additional chief secretary of Odisha’s general administration department. Pandian has held his current position since 2011 and has exerted significant influence in the corridors of power in Odisha. He made headlines for his extensive travels to various districts within the state, often using the state chopper.
Criticism has arisen from both the opposition parties, the BJP and Congress, as well as leaders within the ruling party. The controversy centers around Pandian, originally from Tamil Nadu, allegedly violating service condition rules, particularly with regards to his chopper travels funded from public funds.
Pandian’s career in the IAS began as a sub-collector in Dharmagarh, located in Kalahandi district. He has held roles as collector in Mayurbhanj and Ganjam before transitioning to the Chief Minister’s office. Speculation now suggests that he may embark on a political journey by potentially joining the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).