Bhubaneswar: Ending months of speculation, former IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan — wife of ex-bureaucrat V K Pandian — joined the BJD on Thursday in the presence of party chief Naveen Patnaik.Sujata, a 2000-batch IAS officer who took voluntary retirement in March 2025, touched the feet of the former chief minister after he welcomed her to the party.Given that she is Pandian’s wife — BJD’s key strategist in the last two simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections and a close confidant of Naveen — her entry had triggered speculation over her possible role in the party. But Naveen quelled all talks of leadership change, asserting that he would lead the party in the next election.“I would like to welcome Srimati Sujata Rout to the BJD. She will join as a simple member of the party,” Naveen said. Citing her IAS role in the past, Naveen said she would help people, particularly women.“I would like to repeat that, of course, I will be leading the BJD in the next election,” Naveen said, adding, “I want to make that very clear.”Sujata said she felt “fortunate” to have had the opportunity to work under Naveen’s leadership (when he was CM), and serve the people of Odisha. “Today, I am again blessed to have this opportunity to work for the people of the state under his leadership. With the grace of Lord Jagannath and blessings of lakhs of BJD workers and functionaries, I shall continue to work for the people of Odisha with dedication and commitment,” the 51-year-old said.Last Aug, when Naveen was admitted to a private hospital for dehydration, Sujata’s presence had fuelled speculation about her imminent entry into the BJD.A postgraduate in political science and a native of Kendrapada — considered Biju Patnaik’s karmabhoomi — Sujata brings administrative experience and political heft as Pandian’s wife.Pandian, who had announced he would take a political sabbatical if the BJD lost in the 2024 elections, has largely stayed away from political activity since, but continues to enjoy Naveen’s confidence.While several BJD leaders welcomed her entry, some senior functionaries, including deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharaya, MLAs Ranendra Pratap Swain and Badri Narayan Patra, were absent at the event held at BJD headquarters.Describing Sujata’s induction as BJD’s “internal matter”, BJP Mahila Morcha state president Aiswarya Biswal said, “This development will have no impact on the BJP.”
