Thiruvananthapuram Corporation: R. Sreelekha’s resignation bid puts BJP in a spot
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For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former IPS officer R. Sreelekha’s move to quit as ward councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, poses the threat of weakening its grip on the high-profile civic body.
If she formally tenders her resignation to the Corporation secretary, it would reduce the party’s tally in the 101-ward Municipal Corporation from 50 to 49, as well as necessitating a bypoll in the Sasthamangalam ward.
Of the two independents in the council, the BJP has the support of Pattoor Radhakrishnan, who heads the town planning standing committee. The other independent councillor, Sudheesh Kumar of the Poundkadavu ward, while not openly aligned with the BJP, had supported it in the contentious issue of extending leave to BJP councillor R. Sugathan. Mr. Sugathan was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act and is currently lodged in prison.
On the other hand, the BJP does not face an imminent threat of losing the Corporation as it still has more seats than the UDF and LDF and given the slim chance of the opposing fronts joining forces to topple it, say experts.
In the 2025 local body polls in Keralam, the BJP had wrested Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from the CPI(M)-led LDF, creating national-level headlines. It had emerged as the single largest party with 50 seats. The CPI(M)-led LDF was pushed down to 29 seats while the Congress-led UDF had won 19.
The January 12, 2026, special election to the Vizhinjam ward (election in 2025 had been put off due to the death of a candidate) saw the UDF wresting the ward and increasing its tally to 20.
According to Mayor V.V. Rajesh, Ms. Sreelekha had cited personal inconveniences as the reason and that the BJP was trying to “resolve issues.”
On their part, the LDF and the UDF are keenly watching the developments. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan said the Thiruvananthapuram district committees of the CPI(M) and the LDF will take a clear stand by studying the developments. The BJP cannot continue in power and Ms. Sreelekha’s decision reflects the degree of unrest in the BJP camp, he said.
Speaking to The Hindu, Congress leader and UDF Parliamentary Party leader in the council K.S. Sabarinadhan indicated that his party was closely watching the developments. “Let it first be confirmed that she has resigned. But she has not been active in the ward during the last six months. If a bypoll takes place, we do believe that we can win,” Mr. Sabarinadhan said.
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