BJP faces fresh majority challenge in Thiruvananthapuram civic body as Sreelekha quits

The BJP-led NDA’s control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has come under fresh pressure after BJP councillor and former DGP R Sreelekha resigned from the council, reducing the party’s strength to 49 in the 101-member corporation.

Sreelekha, who represented the Sasthamangalam ward, submitted her resignation to Mayor VV Rajesh, reportedly on September 30. Her exit comes amid an unresolved disagreement with the BJP leadership over the mayoral post.

Sreelekha had earlier said that she entered the local body election after being told that she would be considered for the mayor’s position. The party eventually chose VV Rajesh for the post.

BJP strength falls below majority mark

The development is significant because the BJP had secured exactly 50 seats in the 101-member corporation in the local body elections, crossing the majority mark of 51 only with the support of an independent councillor. The LDF won 29 seats, while the UDF secured 19. Two independents were also elected. The victory marked the first time the BJP-led NDA took control of the capital corporation.

Also Read: How BJP-ruled Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has become a political battleground

With Sreelekha’s resignation, the BJP’s elected strength has now fallen to 49. The ruling front, therefore, needs the continued support of independent councillor Pattoor Radhakrishnan to maintain its effective majority. The other independent councillor, Sudheesh Kumar of Poundukadavu, is aligned with the LDF.

BJP in damage control mode

The BJP has gone into damage-control mode, with the party leadership trying to persuade Sreelekha to withdraw her resignation. “Her resignation letter should be submitted to the corporation secretary. She handed over a letter to me mentioning certain issues she is facing. Generally, the party addresses such issues. All of us have our own issues, and our senior leaders will take care of them. This is all I can say at the moment,” Mayor VV Rajesh told the media.

Corporation Secretary J Muhammed Shafi later said the resignation letter submitted by Sreelekha to Rajesh was not valid, as only he was authorised to accept such a resignation under the law. Shafi was speaking to reporters after Rajesh confirmed that Sreelekha had submitted her resignation letter to him on September 30, citing personal inconvenience.

Shafi said he had not received any communication regarding the resignation so far and that the Mayor had also not informed him about it. "A resignation has not been received officially. According to Section 40 of the Kerala Municipality Act, the resignation must be submitted to the Secretary. No such resignation letter has been received so far," he said.

Sugathan episode had earlier tested numbers

The BJP had already faced a serious numbers problem earlier this year after councillor R Sugathan was detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. His absence temporarily left the NDA one member short of the majority required in the council. The corporation subsequently approved his leave application, with the support of an independent councillor, helping the BJP avoid an immediate loss of its majority.

Also Read: Why BJP is on the brink of losing its only Kerala civic body

Sugathan’s case had also triggered demands from both the LDF and UDF for his removal from the council. His continued detention had raised questions about whether his absence from successive council meetings could eventually result in disqualification under the Kerala Municipality Act. Legal interpretations, however, pointed to the importance of whether the absence was without the corporation’s permission.

Sreelekha exit creates new numbers problem

Sreelekha’s resignation now creates a different problem for the BJP. Unlike the Sugathan episode, this is a reduction in the party’s actual strength in the council. The ruling front will have to navigate every politically significant vote with little room for dissent or defections.

Also Read: LDF says it won’t back no-confidence motion against BJP in Thiruvananthapuram Corp

The immediate political question is whether the opposition will seek to test the BJP’s numbers through a no-confidence motion. The UDF had already considered such a move in June when the NDA was temporarily short of the majority mark. At that stage, the UDF did not have the numbers to move the motion on its own, since the law requires the support of at least one-third of the sanctioned strength of the council to initiate such a proceeding.

NDA depends on independent support

Sreelekha’s resignation therefore does not automatically bring down the BJP administration. But it leaves the corporation’s first BJP-led administration in a considerably more precarious position, with the ruling front’s survival now closely tied to the position taken by the lone independent supporting it.