"Raid Sreelekha": Ex-IPS R. Sreelekha, BJP's new face, eyes Thiruvananthapuram Mayor.

• R. Sreelekha was Kerala's first female IPS officer (1987) and first female DGP (2017).
• Known as "Raid Sreelekha" for her bold work in CBI and as Traffic Commissioner, reducing road accidents.
• She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, a year after retiring from 33 years of government service.
• BJP secured a historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections, ending LDF's 45-year dominance.
• Elected from Sasthamangalam, Sreelekha is a strong contender to become Thiruvananthapuram's first female mayor.

Why It Matters: R. Sreelekha's BJP entry marks a significant political shift in Kerala's Left bastion.