Sreelekha’s Resignation Letter Is Not Official

Sreelekha’s resignation letter sits in limbo — but the BJP’s hold on Thiruvananthapuram just got shaky.

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R Sreelekha, the former IPS officer and BJP councillor in Thiruvananthapuram, has triggered a political firestorm by submitting her resignation letter to Mayor V V Rajesh on September 30 — though it hasn’t been formally accepted yet. The move comes at a volatile moment for the ruling BJP, which holds just 50 of 101 seats in the city corporation, with its majority hanging by a thread.

If the resignation is confirmed, the party’s tally drops to 49, potentially handing opposition forces a chance to wrest control. The twist? The letter was never sent to the Corporation Secretary, as required under Section 40 of the Kerala Municipality Act. Instead, it was shared via WhatsApp, a detail that’s already drawing scrutiny.

The secretary, J Mohammed Shafi, says he hasn’t received anything. That means the resignation isn’t official. Yet, the damage is done. The news broke only on October 3, after Sreelekha announced it in a ward group chat, adding she’d submit the formal letter to the district collector on Monday.

She hasn’t spoken to media since. Her exit follows months of tension: she had publicly backed the mayor’s post for herself, only to be passed over in favour of Rajesh. Allegedly due to RSS influence. She didn’t attend his swearing-in.

Even her 2026 Assembly campaign from Shastamangalam ended in third place, despite being pushed into the race. Now, with another BJP councillor, R Sugathan, jailed under KAAPA just weeks ago, the party’s grip on the capital city feels increasingly fragile. The next move? The state election commission will have to act once the secretary confirms receipt.

Until then, it’s not a resignation. It’s a warning.