Forty-nine-year-old V. V. Rajesh created history by becoming the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to be elected as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Rajesh secured 51 votes, surpassing the CPI(M) candidate R.P. Shivaji with 29 votes and the UDF candidate K.S. Sabarinathan with 19 votes, while one independent councillor abstained from voting. This victory places Rajesh alongside other BJP trailblazers in Kerala, such as O. Rajagopal and Suresh Gopi.
Rajesh’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the BJP in Kerala’s urban political landscape. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) clinched a majority in the 101-member corporation after independent councillor P. Radhakrishnan pledged support, ensuring Rajesh’s win in the mayoral election. The NDA’s rise as the largest bloc was unprecedented, following the BJP’s remarkable performance in the recent local body elections.
The BJP’s triumph in securing 50 out of 100 wards in the local body elections ended the CPI(M)’s long-standing dominance in the State capital’s civic body. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 29 seats, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) managed 19 seats. Additionally, two wards were won by independents, with one ward’s polling postponed due to a candidate’s demise.
Rajesh’s selection as the mayoral candidate came after extensive internal discussions within the BJP, with State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar engaging in consultations in New Delhi. The decision in favor of Rajesh, over former Director General of Police R. Sreelekha, was supported by the RSS. The new Mayor received congratulations from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was greeted by prominent BJP leaders, including Union Minister Suresh Gopi.
