The Election Commission has ordered the removal of the “IPS” designation from posters of former police officer R. Sreelekha, who is contesting as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Sasthamangalam ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections.
The action follows a complaint filed by T. S. Reshmi, the candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The complaint argued that it is illegal to use “IPS” along with Sreelekha’s name after she retires from service.
As a result, the Election Commission ordered the removal of “IPS” from campaign posters at several locations. In some remaining places, BJP workers subsequently replaced “IPS” with “retired IPS.”
Sreelekha, a retired Director General of Police and the first woman IPS officer from Kerala, is contesting the civic polls under the BJP banner.
From her side, Sreelekha said that “even though the ‘IPS’ designation is removed, everyone knows me.”
The Commission’s order and subsequent corrections mark a procedural setback for her campaign, as the removal of her police-service title could impact voter perception in the civic poll contest.
 candidate from the Sasthamangalam ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections.){kind=link}