Naveen Patnaik's aide VK Pandian retires from politics: 'Did everything, but...'

VK Pandian, the aide of former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who announced his decision to quit active politics, said he did not foresee the aggressive campaign by the BJP who labelled him as an "outsider".

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV after announcing his decision to retire from politics, Pandian admitted that there was a political impact due to questions raised about his place of birth.

"The way campaigning was done attacking my origin and my place or birth was something that I didn't foresee. I gracefully accept my limitations because of my place of birth. I put my heart out and I did hard work. I did everything possible but finally the place of birth was an issue, which I had control over it," he said.

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha, there was an "outsider" perception of Pandian, who resigned from civil service and joined the BJD in November last year. He was believed to have wielded considerable influence within the BJD.

There was also speculation of Pandian being appointed as Patnaik's successor, but the former bureaucrat categorically ruled out such an ambition.