BJP’s Thiruvananthapuram Councillor Retired DGP R Sreelekha Resigns
Sreelekha, however, has not yet submitted the resignation to the Corporation Secretary, who is the competent authority to accept it, Mayor VV Rajesh said
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a setback for the ruling BJP in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, party councillor and former DGP R. Sreelekha submitted her resignation to the Mayor on Saturday. Sreelekha is expected to formally resign on Monday, as the Corporation Secretary has not yet received her resignation letter. If she proceeds, the BJP’s tally in the 101-member council will drop to 49. Representing the Sasthamangalam ward in the city, Sreelekha sent her resignation letter to Mayor V. V. Rajesh on September 30, citing personal reasons, according to the Mayor.
Sreelekha joined the BJP in 2024, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and leadership. She is the first woman IPS officer from Kerala and currently serves as the state vice president of the BJP.
The former DGP also posted a message in her ward’s WhatsApp group, stating she would officially submit the resignation letter to the Corporation Secretary and District Collector on Monday. Sreelekha has been incommunicado after submitting her letter to the Mayor.
The resignation has surprised party leaders. She was earlier tipped to become the Mayor after the BJP-led NDA secured a majority in the corporation in 2025, ending the 40-year-old reign of the CPM led LDF. As of now, the NDA has 51 councillors, including the support of an independent councillor and a Congress rebel who won a bypoll, in the 101-member Corporation, and there is no threat to their power.
Sreelekha had contested the assembly elections earlier this year from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency and finished third. While there were allegations that she could not secure even the party votes, her supporters accuse certain sections of sabotaging her victory.