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BJP's V.V. Rajesh Poised to Make History as Thiruvananthapuram's First BJP Mayor

V.V. Rajesh is set to become the first Bharatiya Janata Party Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, following the BJP-led NDA's stunning victory in the local body elections where it secured 50 of 100 wards. His selection came after intense internal deliberations and consultations with the national leadership, ultimately favoring him over former DGP R. Sreelekha. The BJP's win ended the CPI(M)'s nearly 45-year dominance over the prestigious civic body. Rajesh's elevation marks a symbolic breakthrough for the BJP in Kerala's capital and signals a significant shift in the state's urban political landscape.

Key Points: BJP's First Mayor in Thiruvananthapuram: V.V. Rajesh Set to Lead

  • Historic first BJP Mayor in city
  • BJP won 50 of 100 wards
  • Ended CPI(M)'s 45-year dominance
  • Rajesh backed by RSS and central leadership
3 min read

V.V. Rajesh set to become BJP's first Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

V.V. Rajesh is set to become Thiruvananthapuram's first BJP Mayor after the party's historic local body win, marking a major political shift in Kerala's capital.

"Rajesh will be our Mayor candidate whose political career began in 1996. – S. Suresh, BJP General Secretary"

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 25

Forty-nine-year-old V.V. Rajesh is poised to enter the record books as the first Bharatiya Janata Party leader to assume the office of Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, marking a watershed moment in the city's political history.

At a meeting of all the winning councillors at the BJP office here, general secretary of the party S. Suresh said each one of the winning candidates is good enough to become the Mayor and the deputy Mayor.

"While Rajesh will be our Mayor candidate whose political career began in 1996, Asha Nath will be the deputy Mayor candidate, and she is in her third term as a councillor," said Suresh.

Although a formal mayoral election will be held on Friday, Rajesh's victory is virtually assured as both the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have announced that they will field candidates for the post.

The development follows the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) stunning performance in the December 9 local body elections, in which the party wrested control of the prestigious civic body from the CPI(M), which had dominated the corporation for nearly 45 years.

The BJP secured 50 of the 100 wards that went to polls, crossing the halfway mark on its own.

The LDF was reduced to 29 seats, while the UDF managed 19.

Two seats were won by independents, and polling in one ward was postponed following the death of an independent candidate.

Since the declaration of results on December 9, the BJP witnessed intense internal deliberations over the choice of mayor.

State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar made two visits to New Delhi for consultations with the central leadership, underscoring the political significance attached to the decision.

The party was reportedly divided between two contenders, Rajesh and former Director General of Police R. Sreelekha, who recently retired from service.

Ultimately, Rajesh emerged as the consensus choice following the intervention of the BJP's national leadership.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is understood to have strongly backed Rajesh, a factor that weighed heavily in the final decision.

On Thursday, senior party leaders met with Sreelekha to brief her on the leadership's decision and to seek her support, bringing an end to speculation over the post.

Once the mayoral election is formally conducted and the results declared, Rajesh will be sworn in as Mayor, becoming the BJP's first-ever mayor in Thiruvananthapuram.

His elevation is being seen as a symbolic breakthrough for the party in Kerala's capital city and a significant shift in the state''s urban political landscape.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Suresh O
Winning 50 out of 100 wards on their own is no small feat for BJP in Kerala. This shows a clear shift in the urban voter's mindset. However, the mayor's real test begins now. He must deliver for all citizens, not just his political base. The intense internal debate before his selection is a bit concerning though.
A
Arjun K
Interesting to see the RSS's influence in the final decision. While change is good, I hope the corporation's functioning improves for the common man. We need less politics and more work on the ground. Let's see if he can bridge the divide and work for development.
M
Meera T
As a resident, my only request is: please fix the drainage problems before the next monsoon! We've suffered enough. It's good to have a new party in charge, but actions matter more than the party symbol. Wishing Asha Nath ji success as Deputy Mayor as well. 👏
R
Rahul R
The LDF and UDF fielding candidates despite BJP's majority shows they are still in denial. The people have spoken clearly. This is a breakthrough moment for Kerala politics. Hope this leads to a more competitive and accountable political environment in the state.
K
Kavya N
Respect to R. Sreelekha for her service. It must have been a tough call between her and Rajesh. Ultimately, the party has chosen experience within the corporation system. His journey since 1996 should help him navigate the complexities. Fingers crossed for positive change!

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