Bhubaneswar: In a major development, the Centre on Monday approved the voluntary retirement of senior IAS officer V. Kartikeya Pandian, who was serving as the private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The 2000-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer was also serving as the Secretary to the CM-Transformational Initiatives (5T).
“In reference to letter No.GAD-SER1-PERS-0100-2014 dated 20.10.2023 from the Government of Odisha on the above mentioned subject, I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of V. Kartikeya Pandian, IAS (OD-2000) under Rule 16(2A) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement benefits) Rules, 1958 with waiver of the notice period as recommended by the state government,” read the letter of the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Pandian, a native of Tamil Nadu, has been the private secretary to Patnaik since 2011, and was considered the most powerful bureaucrat in the state.
Speculation are rife that he may enter politics by joining the ruling party. He had recently visited different districts across the state in whirlwind tours, creating a buzz in the state’s political circles about his entry into active politics.
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