Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done wonders in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The Left Front, which had dominated the civic elections in Thiruvananthapuram for 45 years, has lost 50 seats to the right-wing party. This victory of Bharatiya Janata Party in Thiruvananthapuram has been called historic even among the leaders of opposition parties. One of the most talked about faces in Kerala is that of R Sreelekha.
Aa Sreelekha has been the former Director General of Police. Now it is being claimed that she can be the mayor of Thiruvananthapuram. On Saturday, votes were counted in the 101-member corporation, in which BJP secured the maximum of 50 seats. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) got 29 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) got 19 seats. Two wards were won by independent candidates.
Now the mayor in Thiruvananthapuram will be from BJP. This change is historical. This body was considered the bastion of the Left, it was under the control of the Left Front for 45 years, but now a big political change has taken place. The party leadership is now going to decide who will sit here. R Sreelekha is also one of the strong contenders for the post of Mayor.
R Sreelekha is a resident of Thiruvananthapuram. In the year 1987, she passed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination and was selected in the Indian Police Service (IPS). She became the first woman IPS of Kerala. He served for 33 years. He handled police units in many districts and worked in important departments like CBI, Kerala Crime Branch, Vigilance, Fire Force, Motor Vehicle Department and Jail Department.
In 2017, he was made the Director General of Police (DGP). She became the first woman from Kerala to reach this rank. He worked extensively against corruption at the grassroots level. While working in CBI, he got the nickname ‘Red Srilekha’. He is in favor of a zero tolerance policy against corruption. She retired from her post in December 2020. She joined BJP in October 2024. He is influenced by Prime Minister Modi in politics. Sreelekha always said that she was not associated with any political party in the police service. He worked without bias.
R Sreelekha contested the election from Sastha Mangalam division and won with a huge margin. His victory became the main reason for BJP’s rise. Now everyone’s eyes are on Sreelekha to see whether the party will make her the mayor. If this happens, she will be the first BJP mayor in Thiruvananthapuram. On the possibility of becoming mayor, Sreelekha said that the decision rests with the party leadership.
VV Rajesh, former district president, BJP
