Election Commission Transfers Odisha Bureaucrat Amid Misuse of Office Allegations

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the immediate transfer of Sujata R Karthikeyan, Secretary of Odisha's Mission Shakti department and wife of BJD leader V K Pandian, to a non-public dealing department. This decision, made on Thursday, comes in response to a petition filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that Karthikeyan was misusing her office to influence women self-help groups to vote for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the ongoing Odisha elections.

Why this matters: The transfer of a high-ranking bureaucrat amid allegations of misuse of office highlights the Election Commission's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections. This move sets a precedent for holding officials accountable for their actions during elections, which can have a significant impact on the outcome of the polls and the democratic process as a whole.

The BJP alleged that Karthikeyan was "misusing" her position and the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program of the Election Commission to influence women self-help groups under Mission Shakti for "electoral gains of BJD". In their complaint to the ECI, the BJP stated, "It is unfortunate that the serving IAS officer has given a go-bye to professionalism and is actively indulging as an agent of the BJD because of the influence of her husband on her. She is actively participating in the elections as a front person of the BJD in a manner which has been unheard of earlier."

V K Pandian, Karthikeyan's husband, is a former bureaucrat who joined the BJD in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Pandian is considered a close associate of the Chief Minister and has been working as a key strategist for the party. The ECI's decision aims to preserve its unbiased and unblemished reputation during the impending parliamentary and assembly elections in Odisha.

Sujata R Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch IAS officer, has been heading the Mission Shakti department since its creation in June 2021. She has been credited with introducing several initiatives that made her popular among the program's members, such as helping self-help groups become small and medium enterprises, a scooter scheme for women, and sending members to foreign countries for learning and exposure. The Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Odisha have around 70 lakh women voters, considered a key vote bank for the BJD government.

Thetransferof Sujata R Karthikeyan is seen as a significant development in the ongoing elections in Odisha. The move is likely to be viewed as a setback to the BJD party, which has been accused of misusing its official machinery to influence the elections. As Odisha undergoes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assemblyelections, the Election Commission's swift action in response to the BJP's complaint underscores its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in the state.

Key Takeaways

• Election Commission of India orders transfer of Sujata R Karthikeyan, Odisha's Mission Shakti Secretary, amid allegations of misuse of office.
• Karthikeyan, wife of BJD leader V K Pandian, accused of influencing women self-help groups to vote for BJD.
• Transfer aims to ensure free and fair elections in Odisha, setting a precedent for holding officials accountable.
• Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch IAS officer, headed Mission Shakti department since 2021, introducing popular initiatives.
• Transfer seen as a setback to BJD party, accused of misusing official machinery to influence elections.