Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The BJP scripted a historic political breakthrough in Kerala on Saturday by wresting the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from the CPI(M), ending 45 years of uninterrupted Left rule in the state capital’s civic body. Adding to the moment’s significance, Kerala’s first woman IPS officer emerged victorious in a high-stakes contest, adding to the scale of the saffron party’s triumph.
Retired as Director General of Police (DGP) in 2020, R Sreelekha stood out as one of the most prominent faces of the BJP’s surge after winning the Sasthamangalam division by a massive margin. Her victory has triggered intense political speculation over whether the 64-year-old former top cop will be the BJP’s choice for mayor. If appointed, she would become the party’s first mayor in the state capital.
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Asked about the possibility, Sreelekha said the decision rested with the party leadership.
“I have come to know that no candidate has ever secured such a lead in the Sasthamangalam ward. I thank the people for their verdict,” she said, responding to reporters after her win.
She added, “Since the day of the announcement of my candidature, there has been constant criticism against me by the LDF and Congress beyond unexpected limits… I am happy to see the people of my ward dismissed all of them and stood by me”.
When the votes were counted on Saturday, the BJP triumphed as the single largest party in the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, winning 50 wards. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front secured 29 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front won 19. Two wards were taken by independent candidates.
Though the BJP fell just one seat short of an outright majority, the outcome marked a decisive political shift in a city long regarded as a Left stronghold.
TOP COP TO MAYOR CONTENDER
Born and raised in Thiruvananthapuram, Sreelekha became Kerala’s first woman IPS officer in January 1987. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she headed police units in several districts and served in key agencies, including the CBI, the Kerala Crime Branch, Vigilance, the Fire Force, the Motor Vehicles Department and the Prison Department.
In 2017, she was promoted as Director General of Police, becoming the first woman in Kerala to attain the rank. During her tenure with the CBI, she earned the nickname ‘Raid Sreelekha’ for her fearless raids and anti-corruption stance.
She retired in December 2020 after more than 33 years in public service.
Post-retirement, Sreelekha remained in the public spotlight, notably for her comments claiming actor Dileep was falsely implicated in the 2017 sexual assault case involving a fellow actor. More recently, she stirred controversy by questioning the delay in filing a sexual harassment complaint against expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil.
She joined the BJP in October 2024, saying she was influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sreelekha has maintained that she had no political affiliations during her police career and served without political bias.
As the BJP celebrates its unprecedented rise in the state capital, attention now turns to whether Sreelekha, will be chosen to lead the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, marking a new chapter in Kerala’s civic politics.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
