Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sujata Karthikeyan, wife of former bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian, has applied for voluntary retirement (VRS), stirring political discussions across Odisha.
Sources reveal that her VRS application was submitted 15 days ago and has been approved by the central government.
Sujata Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch IAS officer, has held pivotal roles, including as Special Secretary in the Odisha Finance Department. Her decision comes shortly after the Odisha government declined her application for an extension of childcare leave in late 2024, instructing her to rejoin her duties immediately.
This announcement has coincided with significant political events in Odisha, including the legislative assembly session and recent travels of VK Pandian alongside Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition. Their presence in Tamil Nadu for a meeting of Opposition parties has further fueled discussions about potential shifts in political alliances and strategies.
Neither Karthikeyan nor the central government has issued an official statement about her VRS or her future career plans. However, her move follows a pattern observed in her husband’s career, as VK Pandian also took VRS in 2023 before joining Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The timing of these developments has left political analysts and observers speculating about future implications for Odisha’s political landscape.
