Day after resigning as councillor, Sreelekha's U-turn following Keralam BJP talks

BJP councillor and former Kerala DGP R Sreelekha has decided not to resign from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after the party leadership intervened and held talks with her.

Sreelekha, who represents the Sasthamangalam ward, had resigned as a councillor on Saturday, in a setback for the BJP months after the party came to power in the state capital's civic body, ending the 45-year-long Left domination. However, following discussions with the BJP leadership, she has now decided against going ahead with her resignation.

The development comes amid growing discontent over the mayoral post. Sreelekha had been upset about the issue from the beginning and had earlier said that she initially refused to contest the corporation election. She agreed only after the party approached her repeatedly and told her that she would not be projected merely as a councillor.

The BJP leadership intervened after her resignation and began efforts to pacify her and persuade her to withdraw it. The party had time until Monday to resolve the issue.

The IPS-turned-politician had raised questions about the mayoral post days after the BJP picked V V Rajesh following its historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The BJP defied expectations to win 50 seats in the 101-member corporation, while the CPI(M)-led LDF coalition secured 29 seats and the Congress won 19.

Sreelekha played a significant role in the BJP's victory in the Left bastion. She emerged as one of the party's most prominent faces during the election campaign and won the Sasthamangalam division by a massive margin.

Despite not being chosen for the mayor's post, Sreelekha had earlier said she would not give up her councillor's position because she had to serve the people who voted for her. She had also said that she accepted the party's decision to choose Rajesh as mayor.BJP HAS SLIM NUMBERS IN 101-MEMBER COUNCIL

The resignation episode assumed significance because the BJP does not have an absolute majority in the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The party is one seat short of the 51 required for a majority. In December, the BJP formed the corporation administration with the support of an independent councillor.

VV Rajesh won the mayoral election with 51 votes in the 101-member council, with the backing of the Independent councillor.

Had Sreelekha gone ahead with her resignation, the BJP's strength would have fallen to 48 members in the 101-member council, further narrowing its numbers.

With Sreelekha now deciding not to resign after talks with the BJP leadership, the immediate threat to the party's numbers has been averted.FROM KERALA'S FIRST WOMAN IPS OFFICER TO BJP'S CIVIC FACE

Sreelekha, Kerala's first woman IPS officer, retired as Director General of Police in 2020 after more than three decades in public service.

She joined the BJP in October 2024 and went on to become one of the prominent faces of the party's state unit. She was appointed vice-president of the state unit.

The bureaucrat-turned-politician was also seen sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Her decision to remain a councillor comes after the BJP leadership stepped in to address her concerns over the mayoral issue, preventing what could have been a politically significant resignation at a time when the party has only 50 elected members in the 101-member corporation.- Ends