THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major setback for the BJP in the state, senior leader R Sreelekha has quit as party councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, after prolonged differences with the party leadership.
The BJP administration, which had scripted history by dismantling 45 years of LDF monopoly in the city corporation, has now been pushed to the brink of crisis following the sudden resignation. The former DGP had been BJP’s prize catch and was introduced into the local body elections by the party’s state and central leadership with much fanfare.
Sreelekha, who has not been on good terms with the leadership after being denied the mayor’s post in the corporation, handed over her resignation as Sasthamangalam councillor to Mayor V V Rajesh, citing personal reasons.
The resignation, however, is yet to become official as she still hasn’t submitted the letter to the corporation secretary. While a section of political leaders view the resignation as a part of pressure tactics, the BJP leadership has already started conciliatory efforts to persuade her to withdraw her resignation. It is learnt that BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar will soon reach out to Sreelekha to discuss the issue.
Sreelekha had expressed disappointment over being denied the mayoral post after the BJP won 50 of the 101 wards in the 2025 local body elections. The resignation could put the BJP in a tight spot in the corporation.
Currently, the party has the support of 52 councillors, including two independents. However, the ruling front is now going through another political crisis caused by the preventive detention of Vazhottukonam councillor R Sugathan under the KAAPA Act.
There are 29 LDF councillors and 20 UDF members in the corporation council. On Saturday, Sreelekha shared a farewell message in her ward’s WhatsApp group mentioning her resignation. In the message, Sreelekha said she submitted her resignation to the mayor on September 30 due to personal reasons.
LDF terms resignation as a ‘bargaining tactic’
Sreelekha further said that she will submit the letter to the district collector on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Rajesh confirmed receiving the letter. He said the party leadership will address the matter. “She gave a letter citing personal issues. When workers cite inconveniences, the party will take appropriate action. At times, we express inconveniences regarding many things, and the leadership will address the same,” he said.
Sreelekha had initially said that she would continue as councillor for the full five-year term despite the BJP leadership’s decision. She had also said that she would not walk away from the responsibility entrusted to her by voters.
Meanwhile, the BJP leadership on Saturday denied that Sreelekha had formally resigned from the corporation, saying neither the party nor the council had received her resignation.
“She has not handed over any resignation letter to us or informed the party. As far as we know, she has not resigned,” said BJP district president Karamana Jayan. “There is no question of her leaving. The party has made its position clear. Sreelekha will attend the party’s programme Seva Jyothi Yatra scheduled for Wednesday,” said Jayan.
The Opposition LDF, meanwhile, termed the resignation as a bargaining tactic.
“This resignation narrative is nothing more than a calculated bargaining tactic and a political threat aimed at her party leadership. As per the rules, a councillor’s resignation must be submitted in the prescribed form to the corporation secretary. Handing a letter to the mayor has no legal validity,” said CPM district secretary V Joy.
“Ever since the mayoral selection, internal discontent has been running deep in the BJP. Sreelekha was fielded in the assembly elections to overcome that dissatisfaction. Promises of posts in bodies like the National Commission for Women were also left unfulfilled. What we are seeing now is blackmail politics born out of that frustration. If a genuine by-election were held today, the BJP would face total collapse in that ward,” he said.
LDF’s parliamentary party leader in the corporation, S P Deepak, alleged that the mayor keeping the resignation letter with himself, instead of forwarding it to the corporation secretary, is a violation of rules.
“Sreelekha’s resignation reflects the growing discontent within the BJP over the mayor’s unilateral style of functioning. He is not taking even his own councillors into confidence while taking decisions,” he alleged.
UDF parliamentary party leader K S Sabarinadhan said Sreelekha’s resignation marks the collapse of civic governance in the capital.
“The mayor has failed completely and this development betrays the trust of Sasthamangalam residents. The BJP has proven incapable of running the city corporation and is now consumed by its own internal conflicts,” he said.