Sujata had opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) on March 13, 2025, months after BJD’s defeat in 2024 assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The central government accepted her VRS on March 13, 2025 itself waiving the mandatory three-month notice period. Senior leaders, MPs and MLAs from all 30 districts were invited by the party to Sankha Bhawan apparently to send a signal that her joining the BJD is a collective decision by the party.

Her husband virtually ruled the roost as Naveen Patnaik’s trusted aide. It may be underlined that she missed her name on the recently released list of the empanelment for holding the Additional Secretary rank post in the Government of India. 

Her induction is also seen as part of the BJD’s larger succession plan. “I got an opportunity to serve the people of Odisha for 24 years under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership. By joining BJD, I again got that opportunity to serve the people of Odisha under Naveen Babu’s leadership,” Sujata said.