‘Major corruption behind Mayor Care projects; Sreelakha was not comfortable as councillor’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The people of Thiruvananthapuram have been left in the lurch under the BJP’s rule of the Corporation, said Congress leader and councillor K S Sabarinathan.

"Councillor Sugathan is in jail, while councillor Sreelekha has resigned and is in hiding. What all is happening in this small Thiruvananthapuram?" he said in a Facebook post. Sabarinathan told the media that the Corporation administration has collapsed over the past six months and that the Mayor has failed.

"The BJP is unable to run the Corporation. Internal conflicts are the reason for this. There is major corruption behind projects, including Mayor Care. Sreelekha should take a stand. She was not comfortable in the position of councillor. Does the BJP have a state president? What people see are only his photos going to the gym on Sundays," Sabarinathan said.

R Sreelakha announced her resignation as a Corporation councillor by posting a message in the ward group. She reportedly submitted her resignation letter to Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V V Rajesh on September 30. The District Collector will also be informed soon. Her resignation is reportedly linked to her dissatisfaction with the BJP leadership. However, Sreelakha said she resigned due to personal reasons.

Sreelakha’s resignation is likely to deepen the BJP’s administrative crisis in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The number of BJP councillors has now come down to 49. BJP councillor Sugathan, who was arrested under the KAAPA Act, remains in jail. The BJP is running the Corporation with the support of an independent councillor. It is amid this situation that Sreelakha’s resignation has come as another setback for the leadership.