Expressed intent to quit as response to long-standing demands were getting delayed, says BJP councillor R.Sreelekha

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sreelekha on Sunday said that she had submitted a letter to Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh expressing her intention to resign from the corporation council, citing delays in the implementation of several long-pending works in the Sasthamangalam ward. In a video posted on her YouTube channel, Ms. Sreelekha said that some residents had reacted harshly to the delays in the ward’s WhatsApp group, causing her mental distress. She said that despite repeatedly raising issues related to the ward’s development, progress on several projects had been slow, leading to criticism from residents.

“If you tell a DGP to do a constable’s job, it will be difficult. If you tell an Army General to stand guard at the borders, it will be difficult. I have been facing a similar situation by having to do a councillor’s work. Even minor delays in resolving issues such as waste management or power supply lead to harsh social media posts, causing me mental trauma,” said the former DGP.

Rejects rumours

She rejected rumours that she had resigned from the BJP and said that she will continue as its proud member till she dies. “I believe BJP is the best national political party in the country. I am not interested in joining any other party as I am an ardent devotee of Modiji,” Ms. Sreelekha said.

This was the first public reaction by her after rumours of her resignation had put the BJP in a spot. A day after she expressed her wish to quit in the ward’s WhatsApp group, she did a U-turn. Explaining the decision, she said that she had written to the Mayor on September 30, warning that she would resign if the problems she raised were not addressed.

She said that she had earlier sent 12 letters to the Mayor raising the various demands including the need for an anganwadi, primary health centre and mending of damaged roads and non-functional street lights. The councillor also complained that the printer and wi-fi in her office were not functioning, and even her chair was in poor condition. “The Mayor had sent these to the department concerned. However, the people working in the departments would delay it, probably because they have been in the Corporation during the 45-year-long CPI(M) rule,” she said.