BJP moves ECI against Senior IAS Officer Sujata Kartikeyan accusing her of obstructing free and fair elections

Bhubaneswar: The  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding action against senior IAS officer Sujata R. Karthikeyan, accusing her of obstructing free and fair elections and inciting violence in Odisha.

In their memorandum, the BJP called for Sujata Karthikeyan to be immediately relocated from Odisha or suspended to ensure a fair electoral process in the state. They alleged that a trio—IPS officers DS Kutey and Ashish Kumar Singh, along with IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan—were acting under the directives of BJD leader V K Pandian, who is also Sujata’s husband and considered the political successor of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The BJP asserted that the actions of these three civil servants violated the All India Services Conduct Rules, the ECI’s clear directives, and electoral laws. They accused Sujata of engaging in electoral malpractices and actively inciting electoral violence in Odisha during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The BJP’s petition highlighted that the ECI had recently found Sujata interfering and attempting to influence the elections, resulting in an order to transfer her to a position unrelated to public dealings or elections. However, the BJP claimed that despite the ECI’s instructions, she continued to engage in electoral malpractice, abuse of machinery, and activities marked by widespread violence and voter intimidation. Neither Mrs Karthikeyan nor senior BJD leaders were immediately available for comment.