By Geetha V P & Nanditha Subhadra
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has every reason to celebrate its landmark victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections—a historic first majority in Kerala’s capital city that has energised the entire saffron ecosystem. Yet, less than a week into their tenure, an unnecessary controversy triggered by the party’s high-profile recruit, retired Director General of Police (DGP) R. Sreelekha, now a councillor, has caused significant embarrassment. Sreelekha’s unilateral demand that CPI(M) MLA V.K. Prasanth vacate his long-standing office space in a corporation building has sparked a fierce political backlash, revealing vulnerabilities in the BJP’s approach and underscoring the dangers of thrusting prominent bureaucrats into the gritty arena of Kerala politics. Critics have pointed to authoritarian undertones in her actions, warning that such displays of hubris could seriously undermine the party’s hard-won momentum in a state where voters are sharp, politically savvy, and quick to punish perceived arrogance.
The row began when Sreelekha, elected from the Sasthamangalam ward, reportedly telephoned Prasanth—a former Thiruvananthapuram mayor and sitting MLA from Vattiyoorkavu—and insisted he immediately surrender the office space he has rented for over seven years. Prasanth publicly described her tone as high-handed, claiming she declared the room was required for her ward office and ordered prompt evacuation. He highlighted the existing legally valid rental agreement and accused her of political vendetta, framing it as an attempt to assert the BJP’s newly acquired authority in the corporation. Sreelekha subsequently minimised the episode, insisting it was merely a “personal request” stemming from genuine space needs and an old acquaintance, and she even met Prasanth personally to smooth things over. Nevertheless, the episode had already escalated: the CPI(M) pounced on the opportunity, depicting the BJP as overbearing outsiders flouting established norms and procedures.
What renders Sreelekha’s conduct especially troubling is her evident sidestepping of due process. As a councillor, she neither consulted the mayor, nor approached the municipal commissioner—the corporation’s administrative neither head— nor coordinated with her own party leaders before demanding the eviction. This behaviour betrays a carry-over from her days as a top cop, where commands were issued without needing consensus. In the democratic framework of a municipal corporation, such solo actions are not only inappropriate but also self-defeating. Kerala politics demands skilful coalition-building and compromise, particularly for the BJP, battling deep-rooted ideological resistance. By going egotistical, Sreelekha has gifted the opposition—especially the CPI(M)—a perfect narrative to brand the BJP as dictatorial and insensitive to local realities.
This is not Sreelekha’s maiden act of impatience. Mere days before, at the oath-taking ceremony of the new BJP mayor, V.V. Rajesh, she stormed out of the council hall, apparently upset at being passed over for the mayoral position despite her much-hyped induction. She notably abstained from any public congratulations on social media, stoking rumours of internal rifts. Her dramatic exit was widely seen as a mark of entitlement, with party sources quietly noting that her bureaucratic upbringing had left her unprepared for the give-and-take of political life. One can only imagine the fallout had the BJP leadership actually chosen her as mayor—a decision they prudently avoided. A mayor habitually issuing orders to MLAs, bypassing commissioners, and sulking over slights could have plunged the corporation into turmoil, transforming governance into constant conflict and stalling progress while eroding faith in the BJP’s administrative maturity.
Sreelekha’s case starkly illustrates the hazards of fast-tracking former bureaucrats into electoral politics, especially in a politically mature state like Kerala with its highly educated and discerning electorate. As Kerala’s first woman DGP, popular for her tough, straightforward approach in law enforcement, Sreelekha was wooed by the BJP with assurances of a starring role. Her police credentials lent glamour and visibility, but they also brought a hierarchical, command-oriented outlook that jars with the collaborative spirit of politics. Habituated to the perks of high office—official vehicles, protocol, and unquestioned power—she appears struggling with the humility needed to engage voters and manage intra-party equations. In Kerala, where voters harbour strong anti-elite sentiments and value ideological authenticity over celebrity status, this misstep by the BJP threatens to cement its image as a distant, elitist force out of touch with ordinary people.
The larger consequences for the BJP could prove severe. Kerala has long resisted the party’s national wave, with its assembly vote share stuck below 15% owing to minority concerns, Left hegemony, and cultural pushback. The Thiruvananthapuram triumph represented a genuine breakthrough, hinting at possible gains in the 2026 assembly elections. However, incidents like Sreelekha’s misadventures risk squandering this goodwill, turning off centrist voters and invigorating opponents. Social media backlash has been vocal, labelling her “arrogant” and questioning the BJP’s recruitment choices. Left unaddressed, such impulsive high-profile entrants could become enduring burdens, imposing inflexible attitudes that stifle organisational expansion. Past examples abound: personalities like Kiran Bedi in Delhi encountered comparable resistance when their administrative rigour clashed with political necessities, ultimately hurting their parties.
At its core, Sreelekha’s intolerant conduct amounts to a self-inflicted injury for the BJP. Without firm intervention from the leadership—be it mentoring, guidance, or marginalisation—the party’s Kerala dreams will stay subtle. Though the incident may appear trivial, it exposes a harsh reality: in politics, arrogance is not merely a weakness; it is a potentially lethal flaw. The BJP needs to move decisively to contain the damage, or this avoidable squall could swell into a full-blown electoral storm.
