Sources indicated that the state leadership has almost settled on R Sreelekha for the post, with the final decision to be taken after consultations with the central leadership, which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Party insiders believe that projecting Sreelekha as the mayoral face will provide a political boost to the BJP and strengthen its drive to bring women to leadership positions. The move previously posed a challenge as senior leader V V Rajesh would be unable to become deputy mayor, a post reserved for a woman councillor. However, sources now say the party sees this as an opportunity to place two women at the helm of the corporation and project it as a model of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power).
If the central leadership approves, the BJP is expected to announce its mayoral candidate in the coming days. Alongside the mayor decision, the leadership is also likely to conduct a detailed review of the party’s setbacks in Thrissur and other regions.
By choosing Kerala’s first woman IPS officer as its candidate, sources suggest the BJP also aims to send out a strong anti-corruption message. Several party leaders feel that having a former top police officer in charge would strengthen the BJP’s efforts to highlight alleged irregularities during the over four-decade-long LDF rule of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, with leaders having repeatedly stated their intent to expose alleged scams during the tenures of V Sivankutty and Arya Rajendran.
Sources said that if Sreelekha’s candidature is approved, senior leader V V Rajesh and former Sasthamangalam councillor S Madhusoodanan Nair are likely to be entrusted with key responsibilities. Party leaders acknowledged Madhusoodanan Nair’s role in Sreelekha’s victory from Sasthamangalam, despite some senior figures, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar, being reportedly unhappy over the defeat of the experienced councillor to K S Sabarinathan.
“We cannot ignore the contribution of S Madhusoodanan Nair in Sreelekha’s victory. The central leadership will factor this in, and many of us are expecting a major announcement by Friday or Saturday,” a senior BJP leader commented.
Senior leaders also noted that the central leadership is closely monitoring developments in the state capital, as the Thiruvananthapuram mayor will be the first BJP mayor of a state capital. “This mayor post will attract national attention. Every step taken in the capital will be closely watched across the country. The central leadership is fully aware of this, and the Prime Minister personally assured support to the party’s efforts in Thiruvananthapuram,” another senior BJP leader added. (TNIE)
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