Who Is R Sreelekha? Ex-DGP and BJP’s Likely First Mayor in Thiruvananthapuram

The BJP marked a historic political milestone in Kerala by capturing the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ending 45 years of uninterrupted Left rule in the state capital’s civic body. At the centre of this breakthrough is R Sreelekha, Kerala’s first woman IPS officer, whose decisive victory has positioned her as a strong contender to become the BJP’s first mayor in Thiruvananthapuram.

Retired Director General of Police R Sreelekha won the Sasthamangalam division by a massive margin, emerging as one of the most prominent faces of the BJP’s surge in the civic elections. Her win has fuelled speculation within political circles that the party may nominate her for the mayor’s post, a move that would mark an unprecedented shift in Kerala’s urban political landscape.

Responding to questions on the possibility, the 64-year-old leader said the decision would be taken by the party leadership. Expressing gratitude to voters, she said the scale of her victory reflected the people’s rejection of sustained criticism directed at her by rival parties during the campaign.

In the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 50 seats, falling just one short of a clear majority. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front secured 29 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front won 19. Two wards were claimed by independent candidates. The outcome signalled a decisive political shift in a city long regarded as a Left bastion.

Born and raised in Thiruvananthapuram, R Sreelekha joined the Indian Police Service in January 1987, becoming Kerala’s first woman IPS officer. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she served in several key roles, including stints with the CBI, Kerala Crime Branch, Vigilance, Fire Force, Motor Vehicles Department and the Prison Department.

In 2017, she was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police, becoming the first woman in the state to achieve the position. Known for her firm anti-corruption approach, she earned the moniker ‘Raid Sreelekha’ during her tenure with the CBI. She retired from service in December 2020 after over 33 years in public service.

After retirement, Sreelekha remained in the public eye due to her outspoken views on several high-profile cases. She formally joined the BJP in October 2024, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership influenced her decision. She has consistently maintained that she served without political affiliation or bias during her policing career.

With the BJP’s unprecedented rise in Thiruvananthapuram, political focus is now firmly on whether R Sreelekha will be entrusted with leading the city’s civic body, potentially ushering in a new phase in Kerala’s municipal politics.