The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delivered a major political shock in Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, winning 50 wards in the recently concluded civic elections. This result ends decades of Left dominance, with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front securing 29 seats and the Congress-led United Democratic Front winning 19. Two wards went to independent candidates. Though the BJP fell just one seat short of an outright majority in the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the outcome marks a decisive shift in the city’s political landscape. The party now faces the task of deciding who will lead the corporation as mayor.

R Sreelekha: From DGP to political star

A standout figure in the BJP’s victory is R Sreelekha, Kerala’s first woman IPS officer. Born and raised in Thiruvananthap

See Full Page