Bhubaneswar: Former five-term MP and a founder member of BJD, Prasanna Patasani, on Saturday raised allegations about the overwhelming influence of retired politician V K Pandian within the opposition party.
Patasani, who joined the BJP last year, claimed that former chief minister Naveen Patnaik communicates only through signals from Pandian, who reportedly serves as his primary adviser. The veteran politician expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises and what he described as an undemocratic concentration of power.
“This is not how democracy works,” said Patasani, questioning the extent of Pandian’s control over BJD affairs. He further alleged that BJD’s electoral setback was directly linked to Pandian’s involvement in ticket distribution, claiming that deserving candidates were overlooked.
He also raised concerns about what he perceives as Naveen’s apparent apprehension regarding Pandian, asking, “What sort of weakness does Naveen Babu have? Why is he so frightened?”
Senior BJD member Debi Prasad Mishra dismissed the claims, stating, “There will always be comments and reactions in politics.”
He reminded that Patasani himself wielded significant influence during his time in BJD.