THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The internal rift within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala took center stage on Friday as former Director General of Police (DGP) and newly elected Sasthamangalam Councillor, R. Sreelekha, openly displayed her displeasure during a high-profile public meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The controversy stems from the BJP leadership’s decision regarding the Mayoral post in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where the party recently secured a historic victory. While Sreelekha, Kerala’s first woman IPS officer, was widely projected as the party’s mayoral face during the election campaign, the leadership ultimately chose V.V. Rajesh for the top post.
Silent Protest at Putharikandam
Witnesses at the Putharikandam Maidan noted that Sreelekha maintained a visible distance from the senior leadership on the dais. Even as Prime Minister Modi was being greeted and later seen off by top leaders including State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Mayor V.V. Rajesh, Sreelekha remained aloof, avoiding the core group.
Sreelekha feels sidelined despite her significant contribution to the party’s performance in the Sasthamangalam ward. Her supporters believe that her administrative experience as a former DGP would have been a major asset for the corporation’s governance.
BJP Leadership Under Pressure
The public display of discontent in the presence of the Prime Minister has reportedly left the central leadership embarrassed. While the BJP aimed to project a united front following their electoral success in the capital city, this internal friction has provided ammunition to political rivals.
Earlier reports indicated that the party had attempted to pacify Sreelekha, but her actions at the event suggest that the grievances remain unresolved. The state leadership is now under pressure to address the “Sreelekha factor” before the dissent spreads further among the rank and file.
