Dikhyaa Mohanty 
“If anything happens we will all get to know,” stated VK Pandian, Chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha, while discounting the likelihood of an electoral coalition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha.
“Whatever talks have been held between the two parties were not to win elections or have an impact on the electoral math,” Pandian stated on Tuesday at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2024. It has to do with something more than elections. In order for the BJD to gain an additional six terms in power in Odisha, the BJP does not require the BJD’s support to win at the federal level.
“Niveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are both outstanding leaders. A coalition between the two parties would be a testament to excellent statesmanship, and they are also close friends. In my opinion, it’s about two outstanding leaders wanting to work together for a more worthwhile goal. When asked whether an alliance between the two parties was necessary, Pandian responded, “It has no electoral value.”
“The combination of these two outstanding leaders is a testament to their remarkable statesmanship. This is how I see it, and even the Chief Minister concurs.
Citing the example of the last panchayat election in the state, Pandian said, “The BJD secured 95 per cent of the votes and the second party – the BJP – could get only 5 per cent of the votes. Our Chief Minister is a popular leader who always thinks and works for the betterment of the people of Odisha.”
Talking about why he joined politics, Pandian clarified that though he entered into politics, he had no plans to enter into electoral politics. He further stated that he is going to help Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to secure a majority in the coming Assembly polls in the state.
“Naveen Patnaik is a great soul and I feel blessed to be associated with him for over a decade. As a disciple of the Chief Minister I felt that I should do something to reach out to the people in a better way.”
When asked how he felt when he is described as an “outsider”, Pandian said, “I have been the focus of the opposition attack for the last four years. However, to understand how the people of Odisha perceive me, one has to see their interaction and discussions with me.”
