Thiruvananthapuram. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surprised the state’s ruling LDF and Congress-led opposition UDF by winning the city’s municipal elections. In such a situation, the big question is whether the first woman IPS officer of Kerala will become the first mayor of BJP from here.
All eyes are on retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer R Sreelekha to see if the BJP will choose her to lead the municipal corporation, which had been a stronghold of the Left for more than four decades. BJP has destroyed this fort of left parties in this election.
The counting of votes cast in the elections held in two phases earlier this week began on Saturday. Sreelekha, who won from Sasthamangalam division of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, has been projected as the face of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the post of mayor.
The BJP has performed impressively in this southern state, which was dominated by Congress and Left-led alliances for decades. While answering the questions of reporters, he thanked the voters for the results. Sreelekha said, “I have received information that no candidate has got such a lead in Sasthamangalam ward before… We thank the public for this decision.”
When asked about the possibility of becoming the mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, he said that the party will take a decision on the matter. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a landslide victory in the municipal elections of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.
The NDA defeated the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF), ending 45 years of continuous Left rule in the corporation. Out of 101 wards of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, BJP has won in 50, LDF in 29, United Democratic Front (UDF) in 19 and two independents. This victory has naturally increased the speculation about making Sreelekha the mayor.
Born and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram, Sreelekha became the first woman IPS officer of Kerala in January 1987. In his career spanning over three decades, he led police units in several districts of the state and also served in the CBI, Kerala Crime Branch, Vigilance Department, Fire Department, Motor Vehicles Department and Prison Department.
Sreelekha was promoted to the post of Director General of Police in 2017, making her the first woman to hold the post in Kerala. She retired in December 2020 after more than 33 years of service. Sreelekha has remained in the news even after retirement, especially due to her statement falsely implicating actor Dileep in the 2017 actress sexual harassment case.
Recently, she had courted controversy by questioning the delay in filing a sexual harassment complaint against expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil. Sreelekha joined BJP in October 2024. She said that she is joining the party after being influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
