Sreelekha denies leaving BJP amid municipal work dispute

Thiruvananthapuram councillor R. Sreelekha said on October 11 that she remained a BJP member. She linked her intention to leave the council to delays in projects in her ward.

The former police chief spoke on her YouTube channel after rumours that she was quitting the party. She said the difficulties concerned her duties as a municipal councillor rather than political disagreements. She ruled out joining another party and described herself as a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sreelekha said she wrote to Mayor V.V. Rajesh on September 30, warning of a possible resignation if problems in Sasthamangalam ward were not addressed. She had previously sent him 12 letters raising demands including a childcare centre, a primary health facility, road repairs and functioning street lights.

She said harsh criticism from residents in a WhatsApp group over delays had caused psychological distress. She also complained about faulty equipment in her council office.

The mayor forwarded her requests to the relevant departments, Sreelekha said. She presented her explanation of the delays as her own assessment.