R. Sreelekha, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councilor for the BJP, turned around after the offer of resignation

R. Sreelekha | Photo credit: MAHINSHA S

A day after R. Sreelekha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councilor from Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, expressed her desire to step down from the post of Sasthamangalam councilor, she appears to have made a U-turn with BJP leaders, including state general secretary S. Suresh and mayor VV Rajesh, saying she will continue in her position.

Ms. Sreelekha reportedly mentioned in her ward’s WhatsApp group on Saturday that she had informed the Mayor through a letter dated September 30 that she was resigning as a councilor due to personal reasons. The Mayor sought to play down the development and said that Ms. Sreelekha had only forwarded a letter expressing personal discomfort. He did not confirm whether the letter communicated her resignation. On Sunday, Mr. Suresh posted a photo of him visiting her in the hospital. He said Ms Sreelekha merely expressed her concern to close associates about whether she would be able to effectively carry out her duties as a public representative, which later became fodder for media speculation. Her WhatsApp group post was also reportedly deleted on Sunday.

“Reports of Ms. Sreelekha resigning are incorrect. It is very inappropriate for some media to make up stories that she might join other political parties or that the party is negotiating because she failed to secure a specific seat. Some have even started dreaming that the BJP corporate administration will collapse soon. Let them keep dreaming, this BJP will not dream. but far beyond that,” he said in a Facebook post. He said that the mayor and also BJP district president Karamana Jayan visited her in the hospital.

The stand of the CPI(M).

CPI(M) leader V. Sivankutty told reporters on Sunday that the “resignation drama” should only be seen as a threat by BJP’s Ms Sreelekha to win new positions. Ms Sreelekha, a former Director General of Police, had earlier made her displeasure at being overlooked for the post of Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram clear. She said the party made her a candidate after promising her the post of mayor.

The rumored resignation has put the BJP, which has a slim majority in the city corporation, on the back foot. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has 50 seats in the 101-member council and is ruling with the support of Independents. If the resignation came true, the party would have 49 councilors left.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 21:04 IST