തിരുവനന്തപുരം കോർപ്പറേഷനിലെ ശാസ്തമംഗലം വാർഡ് കൗൺസിലറും ബിജെപി സംസ്ഥാന വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റുമായ ആർ. ശ്രീലേഖ രാജിവെക്കാൻ തീരുമാനിച്ചതോടെ പാർട്ടിയിൽ പുതിയ പ്രതിസന്ധി. വ്യക്തിപരമായ കാരണങ്ങളാൽ രാജിവെക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് വാർഡ് വാട്സാപ്പ് ഗ്രൂപ്പിൽ അവർ അറിയിച്ചു. എന്നാൽ ഔദ്യോഗികമായി കത്ത് ലഭിച്ചിട്ടില്ലെന്ന് മേയറും കോർപ്പറേഷൻ സെക്രട്ടറിയും വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
The former DGP mentions in her ward's WhatsApp group that she had informed the Mayor through a letter on September 30 about resigning as a councillor for personal reasons. Mayor says the letter only contained her inconveniences and that a councillor has to submit resignation letter to Corporation Secretary. The latter denies receiving any such communication
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, was plunged into a fresh crisis on Saturday with party State vice president R. Sreelekha reportedly expressing her desire to quit as Sasthamangalam ward councillor.
However, Mayor V.V. Rajesh tried to downplay the development, saying Ms. Sreelekha had only handed over a letter expressing personal inconveniences. He did not confirm if the letter communicated her resignation, saying a councillor has to submit a letter of resignation to the Corporation Secretary.
Ms. Sreelekha had earlier protested not being considered for the post of Mayor. While she contested the State Assembly election from the Vattiyurkavu constituency, she finished third.
'Not over phone too'
Corporation Secretary J. Muhammed Shafi, too, denied receiving an official communication letter from Ms. Sreelekha. Mr. Shafi clarified that according to Section 40 of the Kerala Municipality Act, a resignation letter has to be submitted to the Corporation Secretary. "No such letter has been received yet," he told mediapersons. He also denied getting such a communication from Ms. Sreelekha over the phone.
Ms. Sreelekha reportedly mentioned in her ward's WhatsApp group that she had informed the Mayor through a letter on September 30 about resigning as a councillor for personal reasons. A copy of the letter would be submitted to the District Collector on Monday, she had said.
The Mayor said the party was trying to find ways of addressing the inconveniences pointed out by Ms. Sreelekha. "On the basis of the letter I got and the information shared with me, I'm trying to take things forward smoothly and address them in the best way possible," Mr. Rajesh said. Ms. Sreelekha could not be contacted for comments.
Slender majority now
The latest development has put the BJP, which has a slender majority in the city Corporation, on the back foot. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has 50 seats in the 101-member council and is ruling with the support of Independents. If the resignation materialises, the party will be left with 49 councillors.
Ms. Sreelekha, a former Director General of Police, had earlier made clear her displeasure at being overlooked for the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor post. She had said the party had fielded her as a candidate after promising the mayoral post to her.