Kerala's first woman IPS officer is BJP candidate in Thiruvananthapuram civic body polls

Thiruvananthapuram: First woman IPS officer from Kerala R Sreelekha is entering the electoral fray by becoming the BJP candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram city corporation election.

BJP, which is making all out efforts to win the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram corporation in the state capital, is also fielding former Indian athlete Padmini Thomas.

Congress already made clear its plans to make it tougher for the BJP as well as to regain its lost glory in the CPM ruled city corporation by fielding former MLA and prominent leader K S Sabarinadhan as candidate.The young professional and son of former Congress leader G Karthikeyan is also being projected as mayor candidate.

At present, of the 100 seats in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, CPM-led Left Democratic Front has 52 seats, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance 35 seats and Congress-led United Democratic Front 10 seats. The NDA which won only six seats in 2010 made a major leap by winning 35 seats both in 2015 and 2020 elections, whereas the UDF that had won 42 seats in 2010 nosedived to 21 in 2015 and 10 in 2020.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is directly monitoring the electioneering in the city corporation, especially since the party is pinning high hopes in at least three seats in the state capital in the 2026 assembly polls.

The BJP is fielding Sreelekha at Sasthamangalam ward in the city which is close to her residence. Sreelekha, who joined the BJP last year, was made party state vice president earlier this year. The 1987-batch IPS officer, who retired from Director General of Police (DGP) rank, has a clean track record.

"Being born and brought up in the city I know the city very well and am sure of winning the maiden poll," she told a section of media.

Padmini Thomas is fielded at Palayam in the heart of the city. An Arjuna award recipient and Asian Games medal winner, Thomas was earlier with the Congress. She joined the BJP last year.

Even as a formal announcement of the local body elections are yet to come, political parties are announcing candidates in advance considering the importance of the polls as the assembly elections in the state will soon follow.