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Senior BJP leader V V Rajesh has taken charge as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation after the party emerged as the single largest force, ending decades of Left rule and marking a significant moment in Kerala’s political landscape.
BJP ends decades long Left control in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram: The election of V V Rajesh as Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram marks a historic shift in the civic politics of Kerala’s capital city. For the first time in forty five years, the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front no longer controls the municipal corporation. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party in the recent civic elections, securing 50 of the 101 seats and setting the stage for a new political chapter in the capital.
The municipal election results delivered a major pre poll boost for the BJP in Kerala. By winning 50 seats, the party fell just short of an absolute majority but managed to form the leadership with strategic support. One ward election was deferred following the death of a candidate during the election period. The outcome ended the uninterrupted rule of the Left Democratic Front in the corporation and signaled a growing BJP footprint in urban Kerala.
V V Rajesh is a senior BJP leader and currently serves as one of the state secretaries of the party. He has been a councillor since 2020 and is regarded as one of the prominent faces of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram. A lawyer by profession, Rajesh has steadily climbed the party ranks through years of organizational work and public engagement.
Rajesh began his political journey through the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP. His grassroots experience and sustained involvement in party activities helped him build a strong base in the capital region. He previously served as a party spokesperson and became a familiar figure in television debates, articulating the party’s positions on key political and social issues.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Rajesh contested from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency while serving as the BJP district president. Although he did not win the seat, the contest enhanced his visibility and strengthened his political standing within the party. The constituency falls within the municipal corporation limits, further reinforcing his connection with the city’s civic politics.
Ahead of the mayoral vote, the BJP secured the support of Independent councillor Radhakrishnan, ensuring its numbers for the leadership posts. Three time BJP councillor Asha Nath G S was elected as the Deputy Mayor. While there was speculation that former DGP R Sreelekha, the first IPS officer from Kerala and a newly elected councillor, might be chosen as mayor, the party opted for Rajesh, emphasizing seniority and long term commitment.
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Rajesh has often been at the forefront of political agitations in the state capital. In 2018, he led protests against the entry of menstruating women into the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple. His leadership during the agitation resulted in criminal cases filed against him in Thiruvananthapuram and Sabarimala, underscoring his active participation in mass movements.
By appointing Rajesh as mayor, the BJP has conveyed a clear message that loyalty and sustained effort within the party are valued. In recent years, the party in Kerala has faced criticism over promoting leaders who joined from other parties, allegedly sidelining long time workers. Rajesh’s elevation counters this narrative and reaffirms the importance of grassroots leadership.
After assuming office, Rajesh outlined an ambitious development roadmap for the capital city. He stated that over the next five years, Thiruvananthapuram would be transformed into one of the three most developed cities in the country. He emphasized equal focus on all 101 wards and pledged to utilize the collective experience of councillors across party lines for the city’s growth.
