Bhubaneshwar, June 25 -- Former IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday and praised party president Naveen Patnaik, calling him an "inspiration" and crediting him for key governance and welfare initiatives in Odisha.

Speaking on the occasion, she recalled her long association with Patnaik during her 24-year administrative career, highlighting his role in disaster management, the implementation of the Mamata scheme, and efforts that helped reduce infant and maternal mortality rates.

Karthikeyan further lauded the Mission Shakti initiative, describing it as a "brilliant idea" that empowered women to live with dignity.

She added that the success of the BJD was the result of the hard work of its wor...