As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marks its centenary with events across India, a notable gathering in Kerala drew attention—thanks to the presence of former Kerala Director General of Police, Mr. Jacob Thomas. At an RSS celebration near Kochi, Mr. Thomas, clad in the traditional Sangh uniform, praised the organisation’s nation-building mission and announced his decision to become a full-time pracharak.
This symbolic moment marks more than personal alignment—it reflects a larger trend of bureaucrats stepping into politics, reshaping Kerala’s political narrative.
A Shift from Administration to Public Service
Mr. Thomas retired in 2020 after a contentious stint under the Left-led government. In 2021, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested the assembly elections from Irinjalakuda in Thrissur. Though he placed third, he managed to boost BJP’s vote share.
Now, with a clearer political stance and active involvement in the RSS’s centenary programmes, Mr. Thomas appears to be aligning himself with long-term ideological and organisational goals.
Veteran IPS Officers Turning to BJP
Mr. Thomas is not alone. Two other prominent retired IPS officers from Kerala—Mr. T.P. Senkumar and Ms. R. Sreelekha—have also joined the BJP in recent years, each with their own complex history with the ruling Left.
Mr. Senkumar, known for his investigations into sensitive cases such as the 2012 murder of RMP leader Mr. T.P. Chandrasekharan, was removed as DGP shortly after the LDF assumed power in 2016. After a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court, he was reinstated.
Ms. Sreelekha, Kerala’s first woman IPS officer (1987 batch), joined the BJP in October 2024. She was appointed a vice-president of the state unit in July 2025. Publicly vocal about being sidelined, Ms. Sreelekha now shares her views through her YouTube channel Sasneham Sreelekha, often critical of the Congress and CPI(M).
Developmental Lens and Political Opportunity
The BJP is actively leveraging the credibility of these former officers to establish itself in Kerala, where it has traditionally struggled. Key wins like Mr. Suresh Gopi’s 2024 Lok Sabha victory in Thrissur and Mr. O. Rajagopal’s 2016 Assembly success in Nemom serve as milestones.
Dr. Renu Suresh, BJP general secretary, said, “If civil servants want to contribute to development and governance post-retirement, they see BJP as the only viable platform.”
Scepticism from Political Rivals
However, opposition parties remain unconvinced. A CPI(M) leader described the trend as “opportunistic,” suggesting it’s more about aligning with the power at the Centre than ideology. Congress spokesperson Mr. Sandeep Varrier added, “The entry of these officers hasn’t delivered political dividends so far. Mr. Thomas’s own campaign in 2021 didn’t change the game.”
Despite the criticism, the BJP sees these moves as laying the foundation for deeper administrative involvement in governance, potentially creating a pool of experienced policymakers in Kerala’s political landscape.
