Former IAS officer Sujata Pandian, wife of V.K. Pandian, formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the presence of party president Naveen Patnaik. The joining ceremony at Sankha Bhavan was held behind closed doors, leading to internal party discussions as several leaders were reportedly excluded. Naveen Patnaik clarified that she joined as an ordinary member and asserted that he would lead the party into the 2029 elections. https://www.dharitri.com/merger-behind-closed-doors-sujata-pandian-is-behind-joining-bjd/ #creator program