R. Srilekha: The Face of BJP’s Historic Victory in Thiruvananthapuram, But Not the Mayor

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator R. Srilekha has once again come into the spotlight. Reports suggest she was disappointed at not being appointed Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, but she has publicly stated that she supports the party’s decision to select V.V. Rajesh for the position.

BJP secured a hard-fought victory in the recent Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections, marking a historic win after 40 years. However, internal party dissatisfaction arose when the mayoral post was announced. Senior BJP leader R. Srilekha revealed that she had been assured by the party of consideration for the Mayor’s post, which influenced her decision to contest the local body elections.

V.V. Rajesh Appointed Mayor
For the first time in four decades, BJP emerged victorious in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections, with V.V. Rajesh being chosen as Mayor. Srilekha stated that she had decided to contest the elections only after the party assured her that she would be considered not just as a corporator, but also as a prominent face for the party and potentially as Mayor. It was this assurance that motivated her to step into the electoral fray.

No Grievances Against Party Decision
As the party’s Kerala vice-president, Srilekha admitted that she was initially hesitant to contest, feeling that entering politics might be premature. The party approached her three times before she agreed. She clarified that she has no complaints about the decision and will continue to serve her constituents diligently as a corporator. Srilekha also affirmed that she has accepted the appointment of V.V. Rajesh as Mayor with happiness and pride.

A Distinguished Police Career
Before entering politics, R. Srilekha had a distinguished career in the police service spanning 33 years. She was Kerala’s first woman IPS officer, renowned for her efficiency and dedication. After teaching at Vidyadhiraj College and working at the Reserve Bank, she joined the civil services in 1988 as ASP in Kottayam and became the first female SP of Thrissur in 1991. She later rose to become Kerala’s DGP. After retiring in 2020, she joined the BJP and currently serves as the state vice-president. In the recent elections, she won from the Sasthamangalam division of Thiruvananthapuram, emerging as a leading contender for the Mayor’s post.