'Best Way To Serve People': Kerala's First Woman IPS Officer R Sreelekha Joins BJP

Kerala's first woman IPS officer R Sreelekha on Wednesday (9 October) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She had retired in 2020 as the director general of Kerala Fire and Rescue Service and was also the first woman IPS officer of Director General of Police (DGP) rank in Kerala.

Alongside her career in the police force, she is also a writer.

Upon her induction into the BJP, Sreelekha attributed her decision to Prime Minister Modi’s influence, citing his “charisma” as a key factor.

“I have faith in BJP’s ideologies. I am joining BJP after three-week-long thinking. It was three weeks back that the BJP approached me asking to join the party. I had been an impartial officer in service. But after retirement, based on my experience, I realise this is my best way to serve the people,” she said, Indian Express reported.

Kerala BJP president K Surendran praised Sreelekha, calling her a “brave officer” who had introduced several reforms in the Kerala police.

“She had fought for women’s rights in the police force. The untouchability towards BJP is over in Kerala,” he told the media.

Sreelekha’s move to join the BJP comes at a time when Kerala is witnessing a debate surrounding ADGP MR Ajith Kumar’s interactions with senior RSS figures.

She is the second retired IPS officer to join the BJP, following Jacob Thomas, a former DGP, who became a BJP member in February 2021.

Thomas had contested the state assembly elections from Irinjalakuda but was defeated by CPI(M) candidate R Bindu.

As an IPS officer from the 1987 batch, Sreelekha’s relationship with the CPI(M)-led Kerala government grew tense during the final phase of her service.

On the day of her retirement, she refrained from attending the formal farewell party and declined the customary guard of honour extended to officers of DGP rank.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Sreelekhahad been a college lecturer and a bank officer before joining the civil service.

During her police career, she held several key positions, including serving as Superintendent of Police (SP) in different districts and later as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Inspector General (IG).

On central deputation, she worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for four years.

Sreelekha has also written nine books.

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