Naveen Patnaik’s nephew in Bhubaneswar, sparks political successor buzz

V K Pandian, who resigned from the IAS last November to join the BJD, rapidly transitioned from being the trusted bureaucratic aide of former CM Naveen Patnaik to a rumored political successor. However, his political career ended just as abruptly on Sunday, as he issued a statement expressing regret that the campaign narrative against him may have contributed to the BJD’s loss.