Former Kerala DGP R Sreelekha
Credit: X/@surendranbjp
In an embarrassment to the BJP in Kerala, former director general of police (DGP) R Sreelekha has said that she contested in the Thiruvananthapuram civic body polls after the BJP leadership assured that she will be made the mayor.
Amidst reports that the BJP offered her the winnable Vattiyoorkavu seat for the upcoming assembly polls, Sreelekha said that she neither received any such message from the party nor was she interested in contesting.
Sreelekha, who is the first woman IPS officer from Kerala, was elected as councilor of Sasthamangalam ward in Thiruvananthapuram city. Though she was widely considered as the mayoral candidate, the saffron party finally zeroed in on party district leader V V Rajesh.
Sreelekha said that Rajesh has more experience than her in politics and that could be the reason why the party opted for him. She also said that she would remain as councillor for the next five years to keep her word to the voters.
"I entered politics recently only and hence was not interested in contesting elections now. But the party asked me to contest, saying that I will be the mayor if BJP wins. I was also projected as the face of the party in the city corporation. But the party finally decided to make Rajesh the mayor as the party would have found him more capable to hold the mayor post as he is more experienced in politics than me. We can't pooh-pooh leadership's decision and simply walkout. I am happy to begin my political career from the grass root as a councillor. Moreover I have to keep my word to my voters and hence I will serve as councilor for five years," Sreelekha told the media.
Rajesh declined to comment on Sreelekha's statements, maintaining that he did not come across it.
The displeasure of the ex-IPS officer has come out at a time when the BJP is making much hype over their victory in Thiruvananthapuram corporation and planning to reap its benefits in the coming assembly polls too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will be coming down to the city to roll out the BJP-led council's development plans for the state capital.