BJP councillor R. Sreelekha says Thiruvananthapuram Mayor post was promised to her, but overlooked at last minute

Seemingly making clear her displeasure at being overlooked for the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor post, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sreelekha on Monday said the party had fielded her as a candidate after promising the Mayoral post to her. In an interview to a YouTube channel, she said she would continue in the councillor’s role for the next five years.

“I was fielded in the local body elections, not just to make me a councillor. The Mayor’s post was promised to me. I was reluctant to contest in the elections. Until the last minute, my name was being mentioned as a Mayor candidate. However, the Central leadership probably felt that V.V. Rajesh might be a better bet as Mayor. But I cannot give up the councillor’s post as I have to serve the people who voted for me,” she said.

After her remarks blew up into a controversy, she met presspersons and clarified that she was not all dissatisfied and was only narrating the chain of events.

“I don’t feel that I have been ignored or deceived. I am happy and satisfied. The controversy now is about some honest remarks regarding the events of that time. Regarding speculations on my candidature in the Assembly elections, I have no other information other than what is being reported in the media. I have no interest in contesting another election, as I am satisfied with the experience as a councillor,” she said. 

Although Ms. Sreelekha, former Director General of Police who won from the Sasthamangalam ward, was earlier tipped to be the Mayor, a section of the BJP leadership stood firm for Mr. Rajesh, considering his long years of experience in building the party at the grass-root level in the district. Soon after Mr. Rajesh took oath, she left the council hall, even before the Opposition councillors did, leading to speculations that she was unhappy at being overlooked for the post.