Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) R. Sreelekha, a 1987-batch IPS officer from the Kerala cadre, has resigned as a councillor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, representing the Sasthamangalam ward.
Sreelekha’s reported resignation comes amid speculation following the BJP’s decision to appoint V. V. Rajesh as Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram instead of her after the party-led alliance’s victory in the local body elections.
Sreelekha had earlier said that she agreed to contest the local body election after being assured that she would be considered for the Mayor’s post. She had also expressed her disappointment after the party selected Rajesh for the position.
Mayor V. V. Rajesh Says Sreelekha Cited Personal Inconveniences
Mayor V. V. Rajesh has sought to downplay the development, saying that Sreelekha had handed over a letter mentioning personal inconveniences.
Rajesh did not confirm whether the letter constituted a formal resignation, stating that a councillor is required to submit the resignation to the Corporation Secretary.
The Corporation Secretary, J. Muhammed Shafi, also said that no official resignation letter had been received from Sreelekha.
According to the applicable procedure under Section 40 of the Kerala Municipality Act, a councillor’s resignation has to be submitted to the Corporation Secretary.
Shafi also denied receiving any communication from Sreelekha over the phone regarding her resignation.
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Sreelekha Reportedly Informed Ward Members About Resignation
Sreelekha reportedly informed members of her ward’s WhatsApp group that she had communicated her decision to resign to Mayor Rajesh through a letter dated September 30.
She also reportedly said that a copy of the letter would be submitted to the District Collector on Monday, October 5.
Meanwhile, Rajesh said the party was trying to address the concerns raised by Sreelekha and find ways to resolve the issues.
Sreelekha could not be contacted for comments on the matter.
BJP’s Strength in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
The development comes at a politically significant time for the BJP-led administration in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
The 101-member council currently has 50 councillors from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the alliance relying on the support of independents to run the Corporation.
If Sreelekha’s resignation is formally accepted, the BJP-led alliance’s strength would fall to 49 councillors, according to the information available.
Sreelekha Previously Expressed Disappointment Over Mayor’s Post
Sreelekha had earlier made public her disappointment after being overlooked for the Mayor’s position.
She had said that she agreed to contest the local body election after receiving an assurance that she would be made Mayor. Following the BJP-led alliance’s victory, however, V. V. Rajesh was selected for the post.
The latest development comes against this backdrop, although the letter referred to by the Mayor has reportedly cited personal inconveniences.
Sreelekha’s 2026 Kerala Assembly Election Contest
Sreelekha had also contested the Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency in the May 2026 Kerala Assembly election.
Congress candidate K. Muraleedharan won the constituency, while Sreelekha finished third in the election.
Her resignation as a Corporation councillor now adds another development to her recent political career in Kerala.
About R. Sreelekha
R. Sreelekha is a former Kerala DGP and a retired 1987-batch IPS officer. She represents the Sasthamangalam ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on a BJP ticket.
She had also contested the Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election.
The resignation marks a significant development in the composition of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and has brought renewed attention to the BJP’s internal leadership dynamics in the civic body.
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