Odisha has simply witnessed its largest political turmoil because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trumped the ruling Biju Janata Dal led by Naveen Patnaik. One of the explanations for the BJD’s loss is claimed to be the retired IAS VK Pandian who took centre stage in the course of the ballot campaigning. Pandian has been the precise hand of Patnaik since final yr when he took voluntary retirement to affix the federal government and was given the rank of a cupboard minister. Now, 4 days after the outcomes had been introduced, VK Pandian’s spouse Sujata R Karthikeyan, who has been serving as Special Secretary to the Finance Department of the Odisha Government, has gone on six months’ depart.
In an order issued on June 5, General Administration and Public Grievance Department of the Odisha Government stated, “Sujata R Karthikeyan, IAS (RR-2000), special secretary to Government, Finance Department is granted Child Care Leave for a period of six months i.e. 180 days w.e.f 31.05.2024 to 26.11.2024 to take care of her minor daughter appearing her 10th exam as per Rule 18-D of AIS (Leave) Rules, 1955.”
Earlier in May, the Election Commission had ordered the switch of Karthikeyan from the put up of secretary to the Mission Shakti division in Odisha. The ECI’s order got here when the Model Code of Conduct was in drive for the Lok Sabha polls 2024.
Who Is Sujata R Karthikeyan?
Sujata is a local of Baluria village within the Pattamundei block of Odisha’s Kendrapara district. Coming from a lower-middle-class household, she accomplished her Master’s diploma in worldwide politics. She married V Ok Pandian, a Tamil Nadu native and her batchmate from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. They have two youngsters collectively. Although Pandian was initially assigned to the Punjab cadre, his marriage to Sujata allowed him to switch to the Odisha cadre.
The basic administration division’s web site lists her dwelling district as Jamshedpur, the place her father works as a physician. In her early profession as an IAS officer, Sujata served because the collector for Cuttack and Sundargarh districts.
Odisha Assembly Election Results 2024
In the lately concluded Odisha meeting elections, the BJP ended Naveen Patnaik and BJD’s 24-year-long rule. In the 147-member meeting, the BJP gained 78 seats whereas the BJD acquired 51 and Congress 14 meeting seats. Teh majority mark is 74.
