Former IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan has officially joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the presence of Naveen Patnaik at Shankha Bhawan, Bhubaneswar. During the event, Patnaik cleared the air regarding party leadership, stating that he will lead the party in the upcoming elections, dismissing rumors of succession. Sujata, who formerly headed Mission Shakti, will work as a grassroots worker focusing on women's development. This move is seen as a strategic response to internal discontent regarding V.K. Pandian and as a counter to BJP's influence among women voters in Odisha. https://odishasambad.in/pandian-chapter-closednaveen-introduces-ex-officer-as-sujata-raut-instead-of-kartikeyan/ #creator program