Former DGP Sreelekha Wins Sasthamangalam Ward, Boosts BJP in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2025 : Kerala’s first woman Director General of Police, Sreelekha, secured a notable electoral victory on Saturday after winning the Sasthamangalam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as a BJP candidate, lending fresh momentum to the party’s claim that it is emerging as a strong contender for control of the civic body.

Sreelekha’s win comes amid a tense and closely fought race for the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, with all three major political fronts — the BJP-led NDA, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) — locked in a competitive contest. The outcome of the remaining seats is keenly awaited, with the final balance of power still uncertain.

At the current stage of counting, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 34 seats, ahead of the Left Front’s 20 and the Congress’s 16, underscoring the party’s improved performance in the state capital. The BJP views Sreelekha’s victory as both symbolic and strategic in its effort to challenge the long-standing dominance of the CPI(M)-led Left in the corporation.

Sreelekha joined the BJP earlier this year, a move that surprised many given her distinguished career in the Kerala Police. Her decision to enter active politics and contest the local body election drew widespread attention, particularly because she had broken significant barriers during her service by becoming the first woman to hold the post of Director General of Police in Kerala.

Her campaign, however, was not free of controversy. On polling day, December 9, Sreelekha attracted criticism after sharing a social media post that was described as a pre-poll survey suggesting an advantage for the BJP-led NDA in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Rival parties alleged that the post violated the Model Code of Conduct.

State Education Minister V. Sivankutty accused her of breaching election norms, noting that the Election Commission explicitly prohibits the publication or circulation of pre-poll survey results on polling day. He described the incident as a serious violation and demanded action. Following the backlash, Sreelekha deleted the post from her social media platforms.

In the outgoing Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the CPI(M)-led Left Front held 51 of the 100 wards, while the BJP-led NDA had 35 seats, with the remainder split between the Congress-led UDF and Independents. The current results indicate a shifting political landscape in the state capital, with Sreelekha’s victory adding to the intrigue surrounding the final outcome.