Meet R Sreelekha, Kerala’s first female IPS officer, who is likely to be BJP’s mayor in Thiruvananthapuram

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scripted a historic political victory in the state of Kerala by capturing power at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after 45 long years of uninterrupted rule by the CPI(M)-led Left in the state capital’s civic body. This victory is a major turn in the political history of the state’s capital, which was always regarded as a Left stronghold. Adding to the significance of the moment, Kerala’s first woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, R Sreelekha, emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the BJP’s breakthrough. The retired Director General of Police (DGP) won the Sasthamangalam division by a massive margin, making her victory one of the standout results of the election. 'Thanks to Sabarimala Sastha' – R Sreelekha, IPS-turned politician, wins Sasthamangalam ward in Thiruvananthapuram.@NewIndianXpress video by @bpdeepu_TNIE @MSKiranPrakash @PaulCithara #LocalBodyPolls #Thiruvananthapuram #Kerala pic.twitter.com/gywiogOcdD— TNIE Kerala (@xpresskerala) December 13, 2025 Her victory has also caused a buzz in political quarters about the possibility of the BJP nominating her as their candidate for the mayor’s position. If that is the case, Sreelekha would be the first mayor for the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram. When questioned about the possibility, Sreelekha replied that it is entirely in the hands of the party leadership. “I have come to know that no candidate has ever secured such a huge lead in the Sasthamangalam ward. I thank the people for their clear verdict,” she told reporters after the results. #WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | On Kerala local body elections, BJP's winning candidate from Sasthamangalam division, R Sreelekha says, "Since the day of the announcement of my candidature, there has been constant criticism against me by the LDF and Congress beyond unexpected… pic.twitter.com/jjsUuzxP6o— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025 She also said that despite facing strong criticism from both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress during the campaign, voters stood firmly by her. “There was constant criticism against me beyond expected limits. I am happy that the people of my ward rejected all of it and supported me,” she said. Who is R Sreelekha? Born and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram, R Sreelekha has had a long and varied career in public service. Before joining the police, she worked as a lecturer at Shree Vidyadhiraja College. She later joined the Reserve Bank of India as a Grade B officer in Mumbai. At just 26 years of age, she cleared the civil services examination and became Kerala’s first woman IPS officer in January 1987, breaking a major barrier in a profession dominated by men at the time. From being Kerala’s first woman IPS officer to becoming our state’s first woman officer to reach the DGP rank, BJP’s Sasthamangalam candidate Sreelekha ji has many milestones in her long record of public service.She is known for her integrity, and she brings that same… pic.twitter.com/Y5ytPVDzdi— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) November 24, 2025 During the next 33 years, Sreelekha held various significant posts both in the state as well as in the national setup. She was the District Superintendent of Police in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Thrissur districts of Kerala. She then held the post of Superintendent of Police and Deputy Inspector General with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Her career involved overseeing various major departments such as the Crime Branch, Vigilance, Armed Police, Fire & Rescue Services, Motor Vehicles Department, and the Prison Department. In 2017, she was given the promotion to Director General of Police. She became the first woman officer to achieve the highest position in the police department in the state of Kerala. During her tenure with the CBI, she gained a reputation as “Raid Sreelekha” for her no-nonsense approach to combating corruption and for her fearlessness in conducting investigations. She retired from service in December 2020 after over three decades of serving in the police force. Sreelekha’s contribution beyond policing Sreelekha is also known for introducing several reforms during her service. As Transport Commissioner, she pushed for e-governance initiatives and played a key role in improving road safety in Kerala. She led Asia’s first Road Safety Hackathon with support from the World Bank. She was instrumental in launching ‘THUNA’, a digital platform aimed at improving communication between the police and the public. She also started HATS, a counselling centre designed to help police personnel dealing with stress and mental health issues. Her work earned her several awards, including the President’s Police Medals for Meritorious and Distinguished Service, the Indian Overseas Award for Public Service, and the Kerala government’s Meritorious Service Award. In 2015, she was selected for the prestigious Chevening Fellowship by the UK government