With state chief K. Surendran present, Kerala's first woman IPS officer and former DGP R Sreelekha joined the BJP on Wednesday.
"I decided within three weeks to join the BJP. I joined the party because of PM Modi. I see the joining as an instrument to help serve the people," Sreelekha was heard saying.
K. Surendran, who draped a shawl and presented a bouquet of flowers to Sreelekha said that she always had been a popular figure in Kerala and a very bold police officer.
Sreelekha stands for her principles always. We are happy to have joined the party on the eve of Navarathri and I am proud that I got the opportunity to welcome her into the BJP. More people will be joining the BJP in the coming days," said Surendran.
The third DGP who has joined the BJP is Sreelekha. The first was T. P. Senkumar after his retirement in 2017 and Jacob Thomas, who contested from the Chalakuddy Assembly constituency in Thrissur district.
As a writer, Sreelekha had published several books including a collection of poems and also a crime thriller.
Sreelekha retired as Director General of the Fire and Rescue Services in March 2023 after a glittering 33-year career.
She joined the IPS in 1987 after a short stint with the Reserve Bank of India.
In the Police Department, she had big-ticket assignments and also had a stint with the CBI, where she was known for conducting several raids.
During her tenure as Transport Commissioner, she was known for enforcing traffic discipline, which brought down the number of accidents on the roads and new heights were achieved in revenues of the Motor Vehicle Department.
During her tenure as Director General of Prisons, she brought in several reforms that brought cheer to the prisoners.
She was in the news once when she told the IPS Officers Association not to organize any retirement function for her.
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