BJP councilor Sreelekha says party promised mayor's post before polls

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP councillor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, R Sreelekha, on Monday said the party had told her before the local body elections that she would be considered for the post of mayor, PTI reported.

The debate over the mayor's post began after the BJP won the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, and V V Rajesh was picked by the party as the mayor.

Speaking to reporters, Sreelekha, also a former DGP, said she was initially not interested in contesting the local body polls. As vice-president of Kerala BJP, she was assigned the responsibility of working for 10 party candidates in the civic elections in Thiruvananthapuram.

"When the party asked me to contest, I rejected it thrice. They insisted, saying I would not be projected merely as a councillor but as the face of the party and considered for mayor," she said.

She said these matters were known to everyone and that there was nothing surprising about them. She said she did not feel cheated as no such situation had arisen.

“I don't know whether what the party told me before the election was told to someone else. I have honesty and integrity, which may not suit politicians, and I speak only the truth,” she said.

However, she said she was happy that the BJP had taken control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and believed the party alone could govern the city properly.

“I want the BJP to govern the state. For that, the best candidates should be selected, and I will be in the forefront to work for it,” she said.

When asked whether she was informed about the reasons for not being considered for the mayor's post, Sreelekha said it was not required, as the decision was taken by the party after discussions.