Naveen Patnaik introduces Sujata Rout Karthikeyan and declares she will lead BJD.

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, a former bureaucrat and the wife of former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian, officially joined the BJD on Thursday. The announcement was made by Patnaik himself after a meeting at the party headquarters, Sankha Bhawan, in Bhubaneswar. Patnaik warmly welcomed Sujata to the BJD, stating that she would be joining as a simple member.

He also praised her extensive experience as an IAS officer, including her last role where she worked closely with women in the state. He expressed confidence that she would quickly adapt to her new position and become a capable leader, particularly for women. Addressing speculations that Sujata may eventually take over the party, Patnaik firmly stated that he would continue to lead the BJD in the upcoming elections.

"Let me reiterate for the media and everyone else that I will indeed be leading the BJD in the next elections. I want to make that very clear," he declared. Speaking to reporters after her induction, Sujata, who hails from Kendrapara district, expressed her dedication to serving the people of Odisha with sincerity.

She credited Naveen Patnaik for giving her the opportunity to serve for 24 years in the civil services and expressed her gratitude for being given the same opportunity again under his leadership. "I am ready to work tirelessly for the people of Odisha, with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the support of party leaders, and the millions of BJD workers," she stated confidently. Sujata, who resigned from the civil services in 2025, is widely recognized for her contributions to Mission Shakti, the women's empowerment program initiated by the previous BJD government.

Her decision to enter active politics comes after her husband VK Pandian, a former bureaucrat-turned-politician, announced his withdrawal from politics following the BJD's loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. While Pandian stepped away from politics after the electoral defeat, Sujata continued her service in the bureaucracy before resigning nine months later, after the BJP formed the government in Odisha. However, her entry into the BJD was met with opposition from some senior party leaders, who held Pandian responsible for the party's poor performance in the 2024 elections.

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