Bhubaneswar, June 25: Former IAS officer and senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Sujata R. Kartikeyan, officially joined the party on Thursday. Her membership puts an end to months of political speculation surrounding her potential entry into the BJD.
Sujata joined the party during a special event held at the BJD headquarters, Shankh Bhawan, in the presence of party president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Welcoming Sujata, Naveen Patnaik stated, “I welcome Sujata Raut to the Biju Janata Dal. She is joining as a general member. As a former IAS officer, she has held several significant positions. In her last term, she was responsible for many important issues concerning women in the state.”
He further expressed confidence that in her new role, she would make significant contributions to serving the people, especially women.
During the event, Naveen Patnaik also sent a clear message to leaders who had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction regarding the growing influence of the Pandian couple within the party. He attempted to quell ongoing discussions about his political succession.
Patnaik emphasized, “I want to clarify once again to the media and everyone that I will lead the Biju Janata Dal in the upcoming elections. I want to make this absolutely clear.”
After joining the BJD, Sujata Kartikeyan remarked that she has had the opportunity to serve the people of Odisha under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership for the past 24 years. She said, “By joining the BJD today, I have the chance to serve Odisha again under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the party leadership, and millions of workers, I will work with full dedication and commitment.”
Notably, Sujata Kartikeyan, an IAS officer from the 2000 batch of the Odisha cadre, graduated from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. She later obtained a Master’s degree in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
It is important to mention that Sujata took voluntary retirement last March, which sparked discussions about her entry into politics and a significant role in the BJD. With her formal induction into the party on Thursday, these speculations have been officially laid to rest.
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