4 hrs ago
R Sreelekha Resigns as BJP Councillor Amid Party Tensions
R. Sreelekha, a former senior police officer, says she is resigning from her elected council seat in Thiruvananthapuram.
She gave her letter to Mayor V. V. Rajesh on September 30.
The Corporation Secretary, who is supposed to receive the letter, had not received it.
Rajesh says he is trying to settle the matter peacefully.
Sreelekha gave personal reasons for her decision.
Some reports say she was unhappy about not being chosen as mayor, but Rajesh says the party did not promise her a post.
Opposition leaders say the resignation reflects problems with the city’s leadership and the BJP.
If the resignation is accepted, the BJP’s council strength would fall to 49.
Reports give different figures for the party’s current support.
Former Kerala DGP R. Sreelekha tendered her resignation as BJP councillor for Sasthamangalam to Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V. V. Rajesh on September 30.
Sreelekha cited personal reasons, while Rajesh said he was trying to resolve the matter amicably.
The Corporation Secretary, the designated authority to receive the resignation, had not received the letter; Rajesh said he had not forwarded it.
Reports linked dissatisfaction to Sreelekha not becoming mayor, but she cited personal reasons and Rajesh denied that the party had promised her a post.
If accepted, the resignation would reduce the BJP’s council strength to 49; reports differ on whether its current support is 50 or 51 councillors, including an Independent.
- Who
- R. Sreelekha, former Kerala DGP and BJP councillor for Sasthamangalam, and Mayor V. V. Rajesh.
- What
- Sreelekha tendered her resignation to the mayor; the Corporation Secretary had not received it.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kerala.
- When
- She submitted it on September 30; the reports were published on October 3.
- Why
- Sreelekha cited personal reasons or inconveniences. Reports also describe dissatisfaction over her not becoming mayor, but she has not confirmed that as her reason.
Opposition criticism
BJP response
What the resignation signals
Opposition criticism
LDF and UDF leaders described the resignation as evidence of problems with civic governance and internal BJP conflict.
BJP response
Mayor V. V. Rajesh denied that a controversy lay behind the move, said Sreelekha cited personal inconveniences, and said he was trying to resolve the matter.
Sreelekha’s treatment and the mayoral post
Opposition criticism
Opposition criticism included claims that the party had protected councillor R. Sugathan while failing to support Sreelekha; reports also noted disappointment that she was not made mayor.
BJP response
Rajesh said the party had not promised anyone a post and assigned roles according to where its workers could best serve.
Key facts
- Ward
- Sasthamangalam
- Resignation submitted
- September 30, to Mayor V. V. Rajesh
- Stated reason
- Personal reasons or inconveniences
- Resignation status
- The Corporation Secretary had not received the letter; Rajesh said he had not forwarded it.
- Corporation size
- 101 members
- Possible BJP strength after acceptance
- 49 councillors
- Reported current BJP support
- Articles give differing totals of 50 and 51, including an Independent.
- Reported next step
- Party sources said Sreelekha would submit a copy to the District Collector on October 5.
Quotes
K S Sabarinadhan
UDF parliamentary party leader in the Corporation.
“Everyone understands that Rajesh has been a huge failure as a Mayor. If Sreelekha resigns like this, it destroys the trust that the ordinary people of Sasthamangalam have. Not only that, but unable to govern the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP is in the midst of an internal feud.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
“The BJP provides all kinds of protection to Sugathan, an accused in the KAAPA case. The BJP leadership was not ready to provide any protection to someone who came here as a councillor after serving as a former DGP.”
theprint.in
Sources
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