Political Upheaval in Kerala: Crisis for BJP in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation
Political circles in Kerala are buzzing with intense activity following reports of friction within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Thiruvananthapuram. The party had recently scripted history by winning the municipal corporation elections, breaking decades of Left dominance and celebrating the milestone across the state. However, the celebrations were short-lived as internal differences and discontent quickly surfaced within the party ranks.
At the center of this political storm is R. Sreelekha, Kerala's first female IPS officer and former Director General of Police (DGP), who recently won a ward councillor seat. Reports of her resignation from the Sasthamangalam ward seat have triggered widespread speculation about the stability of the local civic body administration, though local leaders claim she remains in her position.
The Root of Discontent: The Mayoral Race Controversy
According to political observers, the primary trigger for Sreelekha's alleged dissatisfaction stems from not being appointed as the Mayor. Reports suggest that when she joined the party in October 2024, she was given assurances regarding leadership roles, but the party ultimately chose V.V. Rajesh for the mayoral position after the December 2025 local body elections.
While state BJP leaders have maintained that she stepped down due to personal reasons if at all, opposition parties have seized the opportunity to corner the administration and question the internal democracy and stability of the newly formed local government.
Numerical Challenges and Damage Control
With 50 NDA councillors in the 101-member corporation backed by an independent, the ruling alliance holds a razor-thin majority. Any formal resignation accepted by the municipal secretary could reduce their strength to 49, threatening their grip on power. Senior BJP leaders have immediately stepped in to initiate damage control and persuade the former top cop to resolve the grievances.
