After the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) approved the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) application of Odisha-Cadre IAS Officer Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday, speculation is now rife on whether she will join active politics in the State.
Sources said Sarangi, who was on Central deputation from 2013, was supposed to return to Odisha in October but applied for VRS in September 2018. Though Sarangi is yet to open her cards regarding her future course of action, there is speculation that she might join politics ahead of the crucial 2019 elections.
BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said his party supremo Naveen Patnaik would consider if Sarangi wishes to join the regional party.
“Several people including former bureaucrats are joining several parties after taking VRS. Let she (Aparajita Sarangi) clear her intention; and if she applies, our party will certainly consider,” said Mishra. It will be too early to predict what impact Sarangi’s joining politics will have, he added.
BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit also informed that his party would welcome to its fold Sarangi, who is known as a pro-people officer. “From media reports, we have learnt that Aparajita Sarangi is keen to join the BJP; and if she applies, the party leadership will take a final decision,” said he.
However, Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati took potshots at both the BJD and the BJP stating that there is a competition among the two parties to induct IAS and IPS officers into their folds.
“The Congress is a party of the common men. But the BJD and the BJP want to govern by inducting bureaucrats into their parties,” said Bahinipati.