NEW DELHI: Retired DGP and Bharatiya Janata Party councillor R Sreelekha has reportedly resigned from the Thiruvananthapuram corporation amid reported dissatisfaction over not being made mayor, despite being projected as the party’s candidate for the post during the 2025 local body elections.Thiruvananthapuram mayor VV Rajesh confirmed that he had received Sreelekha’s resignation letter and said efforts were under way to resolve the issue amicably.Speaking to reporters, Rajesh said Sreelekha had cited personal inconveniences as the reason for her resignation.“Personal inconveniences are natural. When working as public representatives, we often encounter inconveniences in many matters. Whatever can be resolved, we will resolve as we go,” he said.“On September 30, the resignation letter was submitted to me. The letter has to be given to the corporation secretary. Based on the letter I received and the information shared with me, I am making efforts to resolve the matter amicably and move forward in whatever way possible,” he added.The resignation came to light after a message purportedly posted by Sreelekha in a WhatsApp group of residents of her ward said she had submitted her resignation to the mayor and would hand over a copy to the district collector on October 5.In the message, she thanked residents for their cooperation.‘Resignation not valid’Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation secretary J Muhammed Shafi said the resignation letter submitted by Sreelekha to the mayor was not valid, as only he was authorised to accept such a resignation under the law.Shafi said he had not received any communication regarding the resignation and that the mayor had also not informed him about it.“A resignation has not been received officially. According to Section 40 of the Kerala Municipality Act, the resignation must be submitted to the Secretary. No such resignation letter has been received so far,” he said.He said that under the standard procedure, when a councillor or elected representative resigns, the Secretary must immediately report it to the Election Commission.“That is what the procedure is. It comes in a specific form. As soon as it is received, an acknowledgement receipt is provided; that is the procedure,” he said.“Legally, under the Kerala Municipality Act, only the Secretary has the authority to accept a resignation. That doesn’t come under the mayor’s authority. The act of resignation has not happened here. That is all I can say. As the Secretary, I haven’t received an official resignation; only then can I confirm it,” he added.LDF sees openingMeanwhile, the LDF and its prime constituent, CPIM, are closely watching developments in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, with Left leaders saying they would take an appropriate stand if a governance crisis emerges.The LDF was voted out of power in the corporation last year after ruling it for 45 years.Though Left leaders have not spoken about a possible change in the administration of the state capital’s civic body, they said appropriate steps would be taken if the situation arises.
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If Sreelekha sticks to her decision to resign, the BJP‘s strength in the 101-member council will come down to 49.The BJP currently has the support of 51 councillors, including an Independent, while the LDF has 29 councillors and the UDF 20.Speaking to reporters in Palakkad, CPM state secretary MV Govindan said the developments should be viewed as an internal issue within the BJP.“As far as we are concerned, there is no other issue. We can think about it only when that time comes,” he said.Asked whether the CPM would utilise the situation, he said, “Well, if you ask whether the CPIM will utilise it, how can we not? Do we have any obligation that the BJP must continue running the Corporation when a governance crisis arises? We will take the right stance.”“They are people who fall for offers. The fact that not all of them will continue politically is what we are seeing now,” he said.
