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Kerala’s first woman IPS officer R Sreelekha joined the BJP in October last year. (File Photo)
BJP state vice president and Thiruvananthapuram corporation councillor R Sreelekha on Monday said “things changed at the last minute” and she was not made the first BJP mayor of Kerala’s capital city despite having been “given assurances” before the election that she would be given the post.
A former police chief, Sreelekha had been projected as the face of the party in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the local body elections that were held across Kerala in December.
The elections saw the BJP getting a historic victory in Thiruvananthapuram, following which party state secretary V V Rajesh, who has been a councillor since 2020, became the first BJP mayor of a municipal corporation in Kerala.
However, Sreelekha said she had agreed to contest elections after being assured that she would be made mayor.
“I was reluctant to contest the elections, but I agreed following the assurance that I would be made mayor. I thought I was the face of the party in the corporation. I am also the BJP’s state vice president, who has to work for all candidates. I was given the task to ensure the victory of 10 candidates,” she said.
“The party leadership said I am the face of the party in the elections to the corporation, and I was presented before TV channels in that manner. However, at the last minute, things changed for some reason,” she added.
She said the party’s central leadership may be of the view that Rajesh can “perform better” as mayor. “I accept the decision of the leadership and I’m not going to debate it [with the leadership]. I cannot walk out in protest against the decision. There are people who voted for me. Hence, I decided to continue as a councillor for five years. I am not going to contest the Assembly elections,” she said. Assembly elections will be held in Kerala later this year.
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After her words triggered a controversy, Sreelekha, said in a Facebook post that she was a proud party worker. “I have no displeasure. I feel proud about working in the great party, BJP. I am a proud party worker, a happy ward councillor and a dedicated public servant,” she said.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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