Thiruvananthapuram: Retired DGP and BJP councillor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation R Sreelekha has submitted her resignation, leading to hectic efforts by BJP state leadership to placate her and avoid a crisis in the council.Sreelekha, who represents Sasthamangalam ward, submitted her resignation on Sept 30. Though a councillor is required to submit the resignation to the corporation secretary, she handed it to mayor VV Rajesh, leaving room for negotiations.Party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is learnt to have spoken to Sreelekha on the phone and persuaded her to hold discussions. A meeting is expected to take place on Monday. Sreelekha had earlier left the state capital, indicating that she was unwilling to engage in discussions with the district leadership.Her resignation could affect the BJP-led administration’s tally in the 101-member council. BJP had won 50 seats in the Dec 2025 local body elections, one short of the 51 needed for a majority. NDA subsequently secured control with the support of an independent councillor. If Sreelekha’s resignation takes effect, BJP’s strength will fall to 49 and the ruling side’s effective support to 50, assuming the independent councillor continues to back the administration.In a WhatsApp message to residents of her ward on Saturday, Sreelekha made public her decision to resign and said she would submit her resignation to the district collector on Monday. Mayor Rajesh also confirmed receiving her resignation letter, in which she cited personal reasons for her inability to continue as councillor.According to party sources, Sreelekha is unhappy with the manner in which she was sidelined by the leadership and with the failure to honour assurances allegedly given to her before she was fielded in the corporation election.She had emerged as one of the contenders for the mayor’s post after winning decisively from Sasthamangalam. BJP, however, chose Rajesh as mayor. Sreelekha subsequently expressed her disappointment over the decision, the sources said.
