Former BJP’s Thiruvananthapuram district president VV Rajesh has been named the party’s mayoral candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections to be held on Friday.
BJP state general secretary S Suresh announced here on Thursday that the party has decided to field V V Rajesh as the mayoral candidate. The decision was taken after an emergency meeting held at the BJP district committee office here. Asha Nath is the deputy mayor candidate. BJP District President Karamana Jayan, VV Rajesh, R Sreelekha, and District General Pappanam Kot Saji participated in the meeting
Rajesh, the face of the BJP in the state capital, and the present party state secretary, was elected to the Thiruvananthapuram corporation from Kodunganoor ward. This is his second term as a councilor.
Until Wednesday, the discussions were progressing in such a way that former DGP R Sreelekha was the front runner for the mayor’s post. It was almost decided to field Sreelekha to the post of mayor. However, following the dramatic moves that took place in the morning, there is a twist in the selection of the candidate. The decision was changed after a section of the party strongly opposed the move to make Sreelekha the mayor. Subsequently, BJP leaders met Sreelekha and informed her about the situation. Earlier, in the wake of the dispute, discussions were also held at Sreelekha’s house. Sreelekha, who won from Sasthamangalam ward, was one of the BJP’s star candidates
It has been reported that the V Muralidhara faction of the party had complained with party president JP Nadda against the selection of Sreelekha, ignoring Rajesh. They reportedly informed the central leadership that it was not right to nominate Sreelekha to the mayor’s post, completely ignoring Rajesh. They also pointed out that making a person with no political experience might pose a problem while running the municipal Corporation. The RSS leadership also supported VV Rajesh. With this, there was a change in Sreelekha’s mayoral candidacy and the saffron party decided to nominate Rajesh to city mayor’s post
In the Thrissur Corporation, where the Congress-led UDF won a comfortable majority and where a dispute over the mayor’s post remains as in Kochi, the party has reached a consensus to give the mayor post to three leaders in three terms. DCC Vice President Dr. Niji Justin may become the mayor in the first term. Subi Babu will take the second turn while Lali James will hold the post of mayor in the last term