Former DGP R Sreelekha resigns as Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor

Thiruvananthapuram: Retired DGP R Sreelekha has resigned as a councillor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, citing personal inconveniences, officials said on Saturday.

Mayor V V Rajesh confirmed that he had received Sreelekha's resignation letter and said discussions on the matter were underway.

Sreelekha, who represents the Sasthamangalam ward on a BJP ticket, submitted her resignation on September 30. A copy will be handed over to the District Collector on October 5, party sources said.

Her resignation comes amid reports that she was dissatisfied after not being chosen as Mayor, despite having been projected as the BJP's candidate for the post during last year's local body elections.

The BJP recently came to power in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the first time, securing 51 seats, including the support of an Independent, in the 101-member civic body. Following Sreelekha's resignation, the ruling front's strength has fallen to 50.

Sreelekha had also contested the April Assembly election from Vattiyoorkavu, where she was defeated by Congress leader K Muraleedharan.

She is Kerala's first woman IPS officer and the first woman to hold the rank of DGP in the state.

Responding to questions about her resignation, Rajesh said personal difficulties were common among public representatives and maintained that there was no controversy behind the move.

“Whatever can be resolved, we will resolve as we go,” he said, adding that Sreelekha's resignation would not affect the BJP's position in the Corporation.