Former IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan Joins BJD

Bhubaneswar: Former IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday, marking her entry into active politics after stepping down from the civil services earlier this year.

She was inducted into the party at Sankha Bhawan in the presence of BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Senior party leaders, former ministers, MPs and MLAs attended the programme.

Welcoming her into the party, Naveen Patnaik officially announced her induction. Her entry comes amid growing political interest following her resignation from service and is being viewed as a significant addition to the BJD.

After joining the party, Sujata said she was grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Odisha under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership.

“I had the privilege of serving the people of Odisha for the last 24 years. I will continue to work for the state with dedication and commitment,” she said.

A 2000-batch IAS officer, Sujata Karthikeyan served in several key administrative roles and was associated with initiatives in women’s empowerment, nutrition, education and rural development. She also played an important role in strengthening Mission Shakti, Odisha’s flagship women’s empowerment programme.

Her political debut comes at a time when the BJD is seeking to strengthen its organisational base after the 2024 Assembly elections.