Conciliation talks yield results; R Sreelekha may withdraw resignation, relief for BJP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There are hints that R Sreelekha may withdraw her decision to resign as the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor. The decision is following the reconciliation talks held with party leaders. Senior leaders, including BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, held discussions with Sreelekha. Disputes with the Corporation led her to resign. BJP sources said that they have been able to convince Sreelekha regarding matters related to this.

Sreelekha has also deleted the message she had posted in a WhatsApp group informing her decision to resign. Her resignation move came as a shock to the BJP, which has been struggling to maintain the numbers needed to retain control of the Corporation. Sreelekha, the councillor from Sasthamangalam, had participated throughout the study classes organised by the party for its councillors in Kovalam on September 25, 26 and 27, aimed at improving the administration. However, immediately after returning home following the classes, sending her resignation letter to Mayor V V Rajesh, left both the party leadership and the mayor stunned.

Sreelekha dropped a bombshell right after the BJP opened a new battlefront against CPM's Thrikkannapuram councillor to weaken the opposition's morale. If Sreelekha had proceeded with her resignation, the city administration would have faced a crisis. Under the law, councillors must submit their resignation to the corporation secretary. The secretary then forwards it to the state election commission, following which the resignation takes effect. The election commission would then conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy in the ward. Given the present circumstances, it would be a major challenge for the BJP to retain the ward by defeating both rival fronts.