BJP candidate Sreelekha storms off stage after snub at party event

Thiruvananthapuram: Internal tensions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into sharp public focus during an election convention for

Kerala’s Vattiyoorkavu candidate in Thiruvananthapuram R Sreelekha, after she abruptly walked off the stage moments after Union Minister S Jaishankar addressed the gathering virtually. The episode, widely circulated on social media, has intensified scrutiny of factionalism within the party ahead of polling.

The trigger for the walkout was Jaishankar’s speech, in which he urged voters to back Rajeev Chandrasekhar, without referring to Sreelekha or the Vattiyoorkavu constituency. The omission was seen by those present as a slight, prompting Sreelekha’s immediate exit from the stage. Senior leaders, including state vice president K Soman, later intervened and persuaded her to return after prolonged discussions outside the venue.

The confrontation adds to a pattern of visible discord. During a previous visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thiruvananthapuram following local body elections, Sreelekha had notably distanced herself from the central leadership, avoiding the public optics of unity as other party figures gathered around Modi. Her early departure from that event had already triggered internal debate within the party.

Sreelekha’s strained relationship with the BJP leadership has been evident over time. She has indicated that her decision to contest elections was tied to assurances of being elevated to the post of Mayor, a commitment she believes was not honoured. She has also conveyed that she was initially reluctant to enter the electoral fray and did not intend to remain confined to a councillor’s role, remarks that have previously generated unease within party ranks.

With polling day approaching, the latest incident underscores deepening internal divisions within the BJP in Kerala, raising questions about campaign cohesion and leadership alignment in a politically sensitive constituency.