Odisha govt rejects extension of go away of Sujata Karthikeyan, spouse of V.Okay. Pandian

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP authorities in Odisha has rejected the appliance to increase the go away of Sujata R. Karthikeyan. File

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP authorities in Odisha has rejected the appliance to increase go away of Sujata R. Karthikeyan, spouse of V. Okay. Pandian, shut aide of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Ms. Karthikeyan had taken a six-month go away from Could 31, 2024, to November 26, 2024, to take care of her minor daughter, who was making ready for her tenth board examinations. This was simply after Mr. Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal’s defeat within the Meeting elections.

Political analysts speculated that the 2000-batch IAS officer may have anticipated a potential backlash, provided that her husband was a key decision-maker within the BJD authorities and performed a essential function in shaping the occasion’s marketing campaign technique.

In a letter, the State’s Normal Administration Division mentioned the extension of go away of Ms. Karthikeyan additional by six months from November 27 was not acceded to and he or she was requested to affix obligation from November 27.

Accused of misusing public workplace

Ms. Karthikeyan final held the place of Particular Secretary within the Finance Division. She was accused of misusing public workplace over the past basic elections, and the Election Fee had transferred her from the publish of Secretary to the Division of Mission Shakti to a ‘private dealing division’.

The Division of Mission Shakti oversees actions of ladies self-help teams. About 70 lakh girls are members of six lakh SHGs within the State. It was thought of that these lady SHG members have been the largest voting block of the BJD. The BJP had alleged that Mission Shakti functionaries influenced the ladies to vote for the BJD.

Her husband, Mr. Pandian, additionally a 2000-batch IAS officer who stop the the civil providers to affix the BJD, was blamed for the occasion’s disappointing efficiency usually in addition to State Meeting elections. Ever because the occasion’s electoral debacle in June, he’s hardly seen in public occasions.