Former IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan joins Biju Janata Dal (opens original article in a new tab)

Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, a former IAS officer, joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on June 25, 2026, in the presence of party leader Naveen Patnaik, who affirmed his leadership for upcoming elections.

• Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, a former IAS officer, joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on June 25, 2026.
• Naveen Patnaik, BJD leader, confirmed he would lead the party in upcoming elections and described her role as a 'simple party member'.
• Karthikeyan retired from service in 2025 after BJD's 2024 election loss, and her husband previously joined and left the party in 2024.