V. K. Pandian’s wife takes voluntary retirement from IAS

V.K. Pandian’s wife Sujata Rout Karthikeyan. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Centre has approved voluntary retirement sought by Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch IAS officer and wife of V. K. Pandian, a trusted aide of former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Ms. Karthikeyan had applied for voluntary retirement on March 13. “Central government has approved the request of voluntary retirement of Ms. Karthikeyan from IAS with effect from March 13, 2025, in relaxation of three months’ mandatory notice period under Rule 16(2A) of All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958,” says a notification issued by Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions. The Centre has asked the Odisha government to issue another notification in this regard.

The IAS officer has followed the footstep of her bureaucrat husband Tamil Nadu-born Mr. Pandian, who had taken voluntary retirement in October 2023 before plunging into active politics and steering Biju Janata Dal’s campaign for 2024 assembly and general elections.

Last year, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in the State had rejected Ms. Karthikeyan’s application to extend leave after she had already taken a six-month leave to care for her minor daughter, who was preparing for her Class 10 board examinations, after BJD’s poll defeats.

While Mr. Pandian wielded significant influence in the Naveen Patnaik government, Ms. Karthikeyan oversaw the crucial Mission Shakti department. During the polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party had alleged that the outgoing IAS officer influenced self-help group (SHG) members into supporting the BJD. The BJP had also moved the Election Commission with a formal complaint and subsequently she was shifted to a non-public dealing department during the elections.

SHGs did well under Ms. Karthikeyan

There were 70 lakh women organized through six lakh SHGs. Political observers always attributed BJD’s spectacular growth and remaining in power to solid support from the women’s block. During Ms. Karthikeyan’s stint in the Mission Shakti department, credit linkage to women’s groups increased from ₹500 crore to ₹15,000 crore in seven years. She used to encourage entrepreneurship among women SHGs and the total turnover from government works done by SHGs alone was ₹11,000 crore in five years.

Ms. Karthikeyan, who topped in political science from Lady Shri Ram College and Delhi University and completed her Masters in international politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, married Mr. Pandian, her IAS batchmate. Mr. Pandian who was initially allotted Punjab cadre changed it to Odisha cadre after marriage.

Mr. Pandian was blamed for the BJD’s disappointing performance in general and assembly elections in 2024. Since then, he is hardly seen in public. Ms. Karthikeyan was also keeping a low profile though she was posted in the Finance Department.